Charlie Munger, the longtime vice chair of Berkshire Hathaway $BRK.B, has died at 99. Once described by Bill Gates as “the broadest thinker I have ever encountered,” Munger seemed largely content to let his friend and business partner Warren Buffett absorb the spotlight at Berkshire’s annual shareholder gatherings in Omaha, where he was famous for saying “I have nothing to add” after Buffett fielded question after question from investors.
But Munger was no wallflower. In particular, at annual shareholder meetings of the Daily Journal Corp., the newspaper publishing company he chaired from 1977 through 2022, Munger was known to hold court and put his folksy wit and whimsy on display.
Look back with us at some of his notable, quotable commentary about life, business, and the only person besides Buffett he ever claimed to trust with his money.
1 / 14
“To me, it’s just dementia. It’s like somebody else is trading turds and you decide you can’t be left out.”
Read more: Charlie Munger compares cryptocurrencies to “turds” and “dementia”
2 / 14
“I haven’t the faintest idea how Elon Musk will turn out, but he has a considerable chance of success and considerable chance of failure. He seems to like it that way.”
Read more: Charlie Munger offers advice on hiring—and a dig at Elon Musk
3 / 14
“He’s not wrong on everything. And just because he isn’t like us, roll with it. If there’s a little danger, what the hell, you’re not going to live forever anyway.”
Read more: Chill out about Trump because life is short, says Warren Buffett’s 93-year-old investing partner
4 / 14
“It just strikes me as a horrible problem and I’m glad it’s theirs, not mine.”
Read more: A British lord asked for Warren Buffett’s help in solving Brexit
5 / 14
“You know who deserves the credit for Abraham Lincoln, and never gets it? His stepmother.”
Read more: Charlie Munger wants you to know about Abraham Lincoln’s stepmother
6 / 14
“We all know people who are outmarried—their spouses are so much better. Think what a good decision that was for them, and what a lucky decision. Way more important than money. And a lot of them did it when they were young. Just stumbled into it. Now—you don’t have to stumble into it. You can be very careful. A lot of people are wearing signs: Danger, Danger, do not touch. And people just charge right ahead. That’s a mistake.”
Read more: For Valentine’s Day, a 95-year-old billionaire’s advice on finding the perfect partner
7 / 14
“He’s partly a Chinese Warren Buffett. That really helps. Partly, he’s fishing in China—not in this over-searched, over-populated, highly competitive American market.”
Read more: The only person besides Warren Buffett who Charlie Munger trusts with his money
8 / 14
“If this gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group, the hell with ’em.”
Read more: A fan paid $3 million for a lunch with Warren Buffett—but you can get his best advice for free
9 / 14
10 / 14
11 / 14
12 / 14
13 / 14
14 / 14
