Billionaire Investor Says Real Estate is Bad Investment, Advises Investors to Go for Bitcoin Instead

One of the wealthiest men in Mexico and the world has recommended exposure to Bitcoin over real estate, calling the latter an expense.

Specifically, Ricardo Salinas Pliego, the fifth richest man in Mexico, gave first-hand expert investment advice on his X handle on Monday. In the post, he suggested that he finds buying Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, a more astute venture over real estate.

Real Estate Is Bad Investment: Pliego

Owing to his affluence, the billionaire has had his fair share of investment ventures. Pliego founded Grupo Salinas, a conglomerate with its toes in media and telecommunications. He also runs the Grupo Elektra, a business he inherited from his family.

Yet with his wealth of investment experience, Pliego finds Bitcoin a more rewarding acquisition than real estate. Interestingly, he called owning a house “expensive,” stressing that, contrary to popular opinion, it is not an investment.

While the billionaire investor admires the concept of buying a property, he explicitly states that those who own them as investments are doing the wrong thing. He insisted that stacking Bitcoin was a more lucrative venture than real estate.

Meanwhile, Pliego’s portfolio is a testament to his staunch belief in the nascent digital asset. In a recent disclosure, he revealed that he holds a staggering 70% of his wealth in Bitcoin and Bitcoin-related vehicles. With his net worth exceeding $5.8 billion, his stash of the premier asset would surely amount to a lot.

Bitcoin vs. Real Estate Debate

Notably, the real estate market has its lure as the go-to sector for legacy investments. While it offers stable and modest returns, Bitcoin has outperformed it outright in the last few years.

For perspective, real estate returned 36.9% between 2017 and 2024, while Bitcoin appreciated nearly 2,000% in the same timeframe.

Meanwhile, a recent report from JP Morgan highlighted that US housing prices could increase by a mere 3% in 2025. Furthermore, it highlighted a trend of dwindling demand as economic mishaps have driven interest from the market to more lucrative enterprises.

However, Bitcoin’s demand is off the charts lately, as institutional and retail investors turn to the asset. With growing adoption, market observers have tipped the pioneering cryptocurrency to continue its northward drive.

Moreover, Bitcoin’s low maintenance, minimal taxation, and digital features make it preferable to real estate, which is immobile and expensive to maintain.