Is it selfish to want to be rich?

Question

Rich Dad · Accepted Answer

If wanting to be rich is selfish, then oxygen masks on airplanes are selfish too.
Money is leverage. The more you have, the more choices you get — where you live, who you help, what problems you solve. Broke people don’t fund charities. Broke people don’t build companies that employ thousands. Wealth amplifies who you already are. If you’re generous, you become a bigger blessing. If you’re greedy, you become a bigger problem. The money just turns up the volume.
What’s actually selfish is shrinking your ambition to make other people comfortable. Playing small doesn’t serve your family, your community, or your future. Build wealth with integrity, create value, solve real problems — and then tell me it’s selfish to win big.

Poor Dad · Answer

Money isn’t evil, but obsession with it can quietly steal your peace.
It’s not selfish to want financial stability — that’s responsible. But chasing riches at any cost can damage relationships, health, and reputation. I’ve seen people sacrifice time with their children and call it “building a legacy.” Be careful. Wealth without balance can leave you surrounded by assets and emotionally bankrupt.
Aim for security first: a stable income, retirement savings, a paid-off home. Wanting more is natural, but don’t let the pursuit of being rich define your worth. Character and contentment matter more than net worth.

Is it selfish to want to be rich?

Rich Dad Says

Poor Dad Says

Whose advice would you follow?

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