Updated on:12/09/2025 05:55 PM 
Charles Thomas Munger, a renowned investment icon and Berkshire Hathaway's vice chairman who famously partnered with Warren Buffett, passed away on Nov. 28 at the age of 99. Munger's family confirmed that he peacefully departed in a California hospital earlier today.
Munger leaves behind an extraordinary legacy across numerous sectors, particularly recognized as one of the most accomplished American investors of the modern era. He established himself as perhaps the business world's most prominent cryptocurrency detractor, consistently expressing his skepticism about digital assets as viable investments.
Together with his lifelong friend and business collaborator Warren Buffett, Munger played a pivotal role in evolving Berkshire Hathaway from a modest textile enterprise into a colossal investment conglomerate valued at more than $700 billion. His long-term value investment strategy centered on acquiring fundamentally strong businesses with sustainable competitive advantages.
Charlie Munger's remarkable professional journey encompassed law, business leadership, investment management, and philanthropic endeavors. Following his service in World War II and graduation from Harvard Law School, he initially practiced real estate law in California before transitioning to full-time investing and business administration during the 1960s.
Between 1962 and 1975, Munger directed his own highly successful investment partnership that achieved approximately 20% annualized returns—significantly outperforming major market benchmarks. This exceptional performance attracted the attention of Warren Buffett, subsequently inviting Munger to join Berkshire Hathaway as vice chairman. Within Berkshire, Munger was instrumental in converting a struggling textile producer into an investment powerhouse and corporate giant currently exceeding $700 billion in market value.
While Munger was widely acknowledged as Buffett's indispensable partner, he had already cultivated an impressive career trajectory prior to their celebrated alliance. When Buffett stated that Munger deserved "all the credit" for Berkshire's achievements, this reflected Munger's extensive background in business and investment—a record that demonstrated remarkable consistency and success.
Munger emerged as an unapologetic opponent of speculative investment approaches, particularly cryptocurrencies, a position he maintained with unwavering conviction. He characterized Bitcoin as "detrimental to society", a "dangerous speculation", and broadly dismissed digital currencies as "economically unsound assets". During the 2023 Daily Journal shareholder meeting, the 99-year-old investment veteran "held back no criticism", denouncing cryptocurrencies as "financially irresponsible" and "economically destabilizing."
When questioned about his rigid position, Munger labeled dissenters as "financially naive" and asserted that no logical justifications existed for permitting cryptocurrencies to operate, advocating instead for the regulatory approach implemented by China in 2021.
Despite notable recoveries in volatile digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum during early 2023, Munger remained resolute in his assessment. "I'm fundamentally opposed to initiatives that threaten the monetary stability of nations," he stated in July 2022. His guidance to fellow investors was unequivocal: "Avoid digital currencies completely. Never allocate capital to them. Allow this investment trend to pass you by."
Only time will determine whether Munger's perspectives on cryptocurrency prove prescient. What remains indisputable is that the business community has not merely lost an acute intellect and perceptive investor—it has bid farewell to an influential figure whose candid opinions on digital assets significantly shaped the investment discourse for years to come.
