'I Hid $26K In Pokémon Debt From My Wife – Now She Wants A Divorce': Dave Ramsey Tells Caller He Damaged The Brain As If He Had An Affair

On The Dave Ramsey Show, a caller named Kyle shared a confession that sounds pretty hard to believe. In a clip shared to TikTok with the caption, "I hid $26K in Pokémon debt from my wife – now she wants a divorce," Kyle explained how his secret $26,000 spending spree on Pokémon cards and social media schemes went completely off the rails. His wife, pregnant with their fourth child, found out – and filed for divorce. What followed was a deep dive into financial infidelity, broken trust and one very expensive lesson in what not to do with your money … or your marriage. 

Kyle explained that his goal was to flip the cards for profit, but that plan fell apart faster than a flimsy Pikachu binder. When Ramsey pressed him for details, the spending wasn't just on Pokémon cards. Kyle also invested money into giveaways and followers to build a social media platform. Ramsey and co-host Jade Warshaw dissected the situation, with Ramsey summing it up as a "false front" – an attempt to appear more successful than he was.

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Warshaw cut straight to the heart of the matter. "Yeah, it's not because of these Pokémon cards," she said. "That was just the final straw." Kyle admitted that his behavior leading up to the debt hadn't been great either – he described himself as "angry" and "not pleasant to be around."

When Ramsey asked what Kyle thought his wife was most upset about, he didn't hesitate. "The deceit. The betrayal," he said, fully owning up to the damage he'd caused. Ramsey didn't sugarcoat it, calling it "financial infidelity." "It's the same part of the brain you damaged," he said, comparing the betrayal to cheating in a relationship.

Kyle shared that he's started counseling, with his wife joining him for the first session. Ramsey and Warshaw both stressed the importance of rebuilding trust. Ramsey even gave him a reading assignment: Dr. Henry Cloud's Trust. He warned Kyle that rebuilding trust isn't just about the big things – it's about being transparent with every decision, no matter how small. "Not even a pack of gum," Ramsey said, driving the point home with an example so mundane it hurt.

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Statistics show that financial infidelity affects nearly one in three couples, with 31% of adults admitting to hiding purchases, debts or accounts from their partners. Communication is critical – studies reveal that couples who discuss finances openly are more likely to feel secure and satisfied in their relationships. For situations as severe as Kyle's, seeking financial advice or counseling isn't just helpful; it's necessary. A financial advisor or counselor can provide tools to navigate debt while helping couples rebuild trust – a process Ramsey emphasized would take radical honesty and patience.

As the call wrapped up, Kyle revealed that he's trying to sell the cards but will be lucky to recover $5,000. Ramsey empathized, sharing his story of going bankrupt chasing a get-rich-quick scheme. But he clarified that rebuilding trust takes radical honesty and a lot of time. For Kyle, it's now a matter of whether his wife will give him that chance.

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