Logic riddle: A rich man needs it, a poor man has it, and if you eat it you will die – what is it?

Introduction / Context:
This classic riddle uses three related clues about what a rich man needs, what a poor man has, and what will be fatal if eaten. The puzzle plays on the word nothing and how it behaves in different sentences. It is a favourite in reasoning tests because it is short, memorable, and rewards flexible thinking about language.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- A rich man needs it.

- A poor man has it.

- If you eat it, you will die.

- The options include abstract ideas like nothing, money, luxury, and debt.

- Only one concept can sensibly fit all three clues when interpreted correctly.

Concept / Approach:
The answer is the word nothing. A rich man needs nothing because he already possesses everything he requires. A poor man has nothing because he lacks material possessions. If you eat nothing, in the sense of having no food at all over a long enough time, you will starve and eventually die. The riddle is therefore a language trick that relies on recognising how nothing completes each sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate the first clue: a rich man needs it. True wealth means that the person needs nothing essential, so the phrase fits well. Step 2: Evaluate the second clue: a poor man has it. A very poor person may be described as having nothing, which also fits naturally. Step 3: Consider the third clue: if you eat it, you will die. If you eat nothing for a long period, you receive no nourishment and eventually die from starvation. Step 4: Try to apply money, luxury, and debt to all three clues; you will see that they do not work consistently. Step 5: Conclude that nothing is the only answer that satisfies all parts of the riddle at the same time.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check each alternative carefully. Money: A rich man has money, but the phrase a poor man has money is usually false for extremely poor people. Luxury: A rich man has luxury; a poor man does not, so this fails the second clue. Debt: A rich man does not need debt, and eating debt is meaningless. None of these can be sensibly eaten either. Only nothing can logically connect to starvation when eaten, in the sense of not eating anything at all.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Money: Does not satisfy all three clues together and is not something that directly causes death if eaten in small amounts. Luxury: Contradicts the idea that a poor man has it. Debt: A poor person may have debt, but a rich man does not need it, and the third clue about eating does not apply at all.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to search for a concrete object rather than an abstract concept. Some learners also interpret the third clue too literally and imagine swallowing coins or paper. The riddle instead uses eat it as a playful way to say if you eat nothing you will die. Recognising this wordplay is crucial for solving many language based puzzles.

Final Answer:
The thing a rich man needs, a poor man has, and which will kill you if you eat it is Nothing.