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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Money & Work • Investor

Charlie Munger

Charlie Munger was an American businessman, investor, lawyer, and philanthropist best known as the longtime vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett’s close business partner.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Charlie Munger was an American investor and businessman, best known as the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett's longtime partner. He died in 2023 at age 99.

Who was Charlie Munger?

Charlie Munger was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1924. He studied at the University of Michigan and Caltech before earning a law degree from Harvard Law School. He co-founded the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson and later became a prominent investor and corporate leader.

His role at Berkshire Hathaway

Munger met Warren Buffett in 1959 and became his closest business partner. He served as vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway from 1978 until his death in 2023. Buffett credited Munger with shaping the company's investment philosophy and capital allocation approach.

Investment philosophy and legacy

Munger was known for disciplined value investing and a multidisciplinary approach to decision-making. He emphasized rational thinking, patience, and avoiding poor investments. He also served as chairman of Wesco Financial and Daily Journal Corporation, and as a director of Costco.

In short

  • Vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway from 1978 to 2023.
  • Warren Buffett's longtime business partner and key influence.
  • Co-founder of law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson.
  • Died at age 99 in Santa Barbara, California.

Quick questions

Who was Charlie Munger?
Charlie Munger was an American investor, lawyer, and businessman best known as the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett's longtime partner.
What was his role at Berkshire Hathaway?
He was vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway from 1978 until his death in 2023.
What other companies was he associated with?
He was chairman of Wesco Financial Corporation and Daily Journal Corporation, and a director of Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger
    Supports: Birth and death dates; Berkshire Hathaway role; business positions; career overview
  2. Los Angeles Times — https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2023-11-28/charles-munger-warren-buffett-dead
    Supports: Death notice; Berkshire Hathaway role; age at death
  3. University of Michigan Law Quadrangle — https://quadrangle.michigan.law.umich.edu/in-memoriam/charles-t-munger
    Supports: Death notice; relationship with Warren Buffett; Berkshire Hathaway significance
  4. Munger Archive — https://mungerarchive.com/life/
    Supports: Early life timeline; education; meeting with Warren Buffett; founding of Munger, Tolles & Olson
  5. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/2014/06/11/us/charlie-munger-fast-facts
    Supports: Biographical basics; education; Berkshire Hathaway and Wesco roles; meeting with Warren Buffett