'I Don't Borrow Money,' Says Dave Ramsey, Even If The Offer Is $1 Billion At 0% Interest For The Next Decade

In a podcast, personal finance guru Dave Ramsey boldly declared that even if offered $1 billion at 0% interest for 10 years, he wouldn't take it. That's right, not even a billion dollars with no interest could tempt Ramsey to break his cardinal rule of never borrowing money.

Why is he so adamant? Ramsey's belief comes from years of teaching and living by one simple idea: debt is a risk and he's not willing to take that chance. "I don't borrow money," Ramsey said confidently, staying true to the advice he's shared with millions through his books, radio show, podcast and financial classes.

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The Power of Staying Debt-Free

For Ramsey, living without debt is more than just a financial strategy – it's a way of life. He believes that borrowing compromises financial freedom no matter how favorable the terms. By avoiding debt, Ramsey says you eliminate risk and maximize your income's potential to build wealth and create security.

"Your most powerful wealth-building tool is your income," he explained. "When you don't have any debt, you've freed up cash flow to build wealth." So even with the hypothetical offer of $1 billion at 0% interest, Ramsey's focus on staying debt-free trumps the appeal of having a sizable amount of interest-free capital.

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Graham Stephan, host of The Iced Coffee Hour podcast where Ramsey made these comments, argued that borrowing $1 billion and investing it in a safe option like Treasury bonds – currently offering 5% yields – would generate massive returns. Ramsey's response? It's not just about the math; it's about principles.

"Mathematically, it might make sense," he admitted. "But I built a career and financial success on avoiding debt and I'm not about to change that now. Borrowing money is an unnecessary risk and I'm not interested in playing that game."

A Philosophy Rooted in Experience

Ramsey's firm stance on debt is deeply personal. Early in his career, he amassed significant wealth through real estate investments, heavily leveraging debt to grow his portfolio. But when the market turned, Ramsey lost everything and declared bankruptcy. That experience shaped his financial philosophy and fueled his commitment to living debt-free.

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The same tenets still guide Ramsey Solutions, his financial education empire, today. The expansive Franklin, Tennessee, campus that serves as the company's headquarters was constructed entirely without borrowed funds.

Ramsey's message is that wealth comes from discipline, intentionality and patience, not shortcuts or leveraging debt. His Baby Steps program, which has helped millions of people get out of debt and build financial security, is based on this philosophy. From saving a $1,000 emergency fund to paying off all non-mortgage debt and investing 15% of your income for retirement, the steps prioritize stability and long-term wealth over quick fixes.

Sticking to His Guns

While rejecting a hypothetical $1 billion may seem drastic to some, it's simply a matter of consistency. Everything he has taught for decades would be contradicted if he accepted that money. He has personally witnessed the devastating effects debt can have on people's lives and he's unwilling to go there (again) for any amount of money.

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