Mexican Billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego Advocates Bitcoin Over Real Estate

Ricardo Salinas Pliego, one of the wealthiest individuals in Mexico and the world, has advised investors to consider Bitcoin over real estate, labeling the latter as an expense rather than an investment. The billionaire, who is the fifth richest man in Mexico, shared his investment insights on his social media platform on Monday. He suggested that acquiring Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization, is a more prudent investment compared to real estate.

Pliego, with a vast array of investment experiences, founded Grupo Salinas, a conglomerate involved in media and telecommunications, and also manages Grupo Elektra, a business inherited from his family. Despite his diverse investment portfolio, Pliego finds Bitcoin to be a more rewarding asset than real estate. He emphasized that owning a house is "expensive" and not an investment, contrary to popular belief. He asserted that accumulating Bitcoin is a more profitable venture than investing in real estate.

Pliego's investment portfolio reflects his strong belief in the potential of digital assets. He disclosed that he holds 70% of his wealth in Bitcoin and related investments. With a net worth exceeding $5.8 billion, his holdings in the premier cryptocurrency are substantial.

The debate between Bitcoin and real estate as investment options has been ongoing. While real estate is traditionally seen as a stable and modest return sector, Bitcoin has shown significant outperformance in recent years. For instance, real estate returned 36.9% between 2017 and 2024, while Bitcoin appreciated nearly 2,000% in the same period.

A recent report highlighted that US housing prices could increase by only 3% in 2025, indicating a trend of declining demand due to economic challenges. In contrast, Bitcoin's demand has surged, with both institutional and retail investors showing increased interest. Market observers predict that Bitcoin's growing adoption will continue to drive its value upward.

Bitcoin's advantages, such as low maintenance, minimal taxation, and digital features, make it a more attractive investment compared to real estate, which is immobile and costly to maintain. Pliego's advice to investors underscores the shifting landscape of investment opportunities, where digital assets like Bitcoin are gaining prominence over traditional investments like real estate.