Moments of Candor from Charlie Munger: From Bitcoin to Jack Ma and Elon Musk, He Was 'Not Impressed'

比推Опубліковано о 2025-12-12Востаннє оновлено о 2025-12-12

Анотація

Charlie Munger, the renowned investor, expressed strong criticisms of Bitcoin and Elon Musk while reflecting on his investment missteps with Alibaba. He described Bitcoin as "stupid, evil, and disgusting," arguing it undermines national currency systems and has no intrinsic value, likely to eventually become worthless. He praised China’s ban on cryptocurrency and compared trading Bitcoin to trading "turds" or "baby brains." Regarding Elon Musk, Munger acknowledged his genius but warned against his overconfidence, stating he would neither invest in nor short Tesla stock. On Alibaba, Munger admitted it was one of his biggest mistakes, criticizing both the company's retail nature and founder Jack Ma’s arrogance toward Chinese regulators. Munger emphasized the importance of independent thinking and learning from errors.

Charlie Munger has commented on Bitcoin and Elon Musk. Looking back today, some of his views may have been right, some wrong, and some of his reflections on mistakes may not be entirely accurate (for example, his failed investment in Alibaba, which he attributed to it being a damn retailer); some still require further verification.

Compiled as follows:

Munger's comments on Bitcoin:

Munger stated: "Bitcoin is stupid, evil, and makes people feel foolish."

"In my life, I try to avoid things that are stupid, and evil, and make me look bad in comparison to someone else, and bitcoin does all three."

Munger stated: "Bitcoin is very likely to go to zero, and it undermines the integrity of the Federal Reserve and the national currency system."

"It’s stupid because it’s very likely to go to zero, and it’s evil because it undermines the Federal Reserve System and national currency system, which we desperately need to maintain its integrity and government control and so on."

Munger said: "China's leaders wisely banned Bitcoin, and with all our presumed advantages of civilization, we are a lot dumber than the communist leader in China."

"He was smart enough to ban bitcoin in China, and with all our presumed advantages of civilization, we are a lot dumber than the communist leader in China."

Munger said: "Bitcoin is disgusting and contrary to the interests of civilization.”

"Bitcoin is disgusting and contrary to the interests of civilization.”

Munger said: "Trading cryptocurrencies is nauseating, like trading excrement."

“It’s like somebody else is trading turds and you decide, ‘I can’t be left out’.”

Munger also analogized: "If you could make money by trading freshly harvested baby brains, would you do it? Bitcoin is almost equally repulsive."

“Imagine if you could profit from trading freshly harvested baby brains. You wouldn’t engage in that, would you? It’s an abhorrent idea. To me, Bitcoin is nearly as objectionable. I see it as a mix of insanity and immorality. Those promoting it are a disgrace.”

Munger said: "I am not proud of my country for allowing this crypto garbage — it's worthless, very crazy, and absolutely harmful."

"I'm not proud of my country for allowing this crap — well, I call it crypto shit. It's worthless, it's crazy, it's not good, it ..."

Munger's comments on Elon Musk:

Munger said: "I wouldn't buy his stock, nor would I short it."

"I wouldn’t buy his stock, nor would I short it."

Munger on Musk: "He is a genius, but overconfident; never underestimate a man who overestimates himself."

“Never underestimate the man who overestimates himself.”

Munger's comments on Alibaba:

Munger said: "I consider investing in Alibaba one of the biggest mistakes I ever made."

"I regard Alibaba as one of the biggest mistakes I ever made."

Munger said: "At the time, I was charmed by their position in the Chinese internet sector and didn't realize that at its core, it was still a damn retailer. The internet industry is fiercely competitive; it won't be a cakewalk for everyone."

"I got charmed by their position in the Chinese internet; I didn't stop to realize they're still a goddamn retailer. It's going to be a competitive business, the internet — it's not going to be a cakewalk for everybody."

Munger criticized Jack Ma for being "very arrogant" in dealing with the Chinese government, stating that his public criticism of regulators was a "very stupid" move.

"Jack Ma was — made mistakes in dealing with the Chinese government. I think he was very arrogant for publicly taking shots at Chinese regulators. Pretty stupid, it's like poking a bear in the nose with a sharp stick. It's not smart. And Jack Ma got way out of line by popping off the way he did to the Chinese government. And of course it hurt Alibaba."

Munger admitted to constantly reflecting on his investment in Alibaba: "I keep reminding myself of the mistakes I've made because I think it's good for me."

"I keep rubbing my own nose in my own mistakes like I'm doing now because I think it's good for myself."

This further tells us that everyone should be an independent thinker. Blind faith in books is worse than having no books at all.

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Original article link:https://www.bitpush.news/articles/7595194

Пов'язані питання

QWhat was Charlie Munger's overall opinion on Bitcoin according to the article?

ACharlie Munger considered Bitcoin to be 'stupid, evil, and makes people feel stupid.' He believed it was likely to go to zero, undermined the national currency system, was disgusting, and contrary to the interests of civilization.

QHow did Charlie Munger describe trading cryptocurrencies?

AHe described trading cryptocurrencies as 'disgusting' and compared it to 'trading turds' or the abhorrent idea of trading 'freshly harvested baby brains.'

QWhat was Charlie Munger's view on Elon Musk and his stock?

AMunger stated he 'wouldn’t buy his stock, nor would I short it.' He acknowledged Musk as a genius but also said he was overconfident, advising to 'never underestimate the man who overestimates himself.'

QWhy did Charlie Munger consider his investment in Alibaba a mistake?

AHe considered it a mistake because he was initially charmed by their position in the Chinese internet but later realized it was essentially a highly competitive retail business. He also criticized Jack Ma for being 'very arrogant' and 'stupid' in publicly criticizing Chinese regulators.

QWhat did Charlie Munger say about China's decision to ban Bitcoin?

AHe praised the decision, stating that China's leader was 'smart enough to ban bitcoin' and that, in comparison, the U.S. was 'a lot dumber' for allowing it.

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