'Would Be Nice If I Were Mother Teresa' — Charlie Munger Said He Was No Saint, But What Worked For His 'Pocketbook' Also Worked For His Morals

Charlie Munger, the late billionaire investor and longtime vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway BRK BRK.B)), was never one to hold back on speaking openly his views. Known for his sharp wit and candid reflections on life, business, and ethics, Munger openly admitted he wasn't striving to be anyone's idea of a saint. 

In a 2020 conversation at the Redlands Forum in Southern California, he laid it out plainly: "It would be nice if I were Mother Teresa and did something I didn't like doing because I am a noble soul, but my life is organized so that, time after time, what works for my pocketbook works for every moral teaching that I've been taught."

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This wasn't a moment of self-deprecation; it was classic Munger—brutally honest and unapologetically pragmatic. His philosophy wasn't about rejecting morality but finding a way to align it with his financial interests. "I don't want to masquerade as a better fellow than I am," he quipped, making it clear that his business decisions weren't cloaked in altruism—they simply made sense both ethically and economically.

Munger's views on philanthropy mirrored this same no-nonsense approach. He never positioned himself as a grand benefactor motivated by self-sacrifice. Reflecting on his own giving habits, he once remarked, "I stopped trying to make more money when I had enough. [Benjamin Franklin] did the same damn thing. He didn't try and die with all his money. He gave a lot of it away… I've done the same thing." His charitable efforts were significant, but they stemmed from a place of rational contentment rather than moral obligation.

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Yet, for all his tough talk, there was a softer undercurrent in his words—an acknowledgment of the luck and privilege that came with his success. "Anybody in such a position is very lucky," he admitted, referring to the alignment of his wealth and moral compass. There was even a hint of humility when he discussed his investments in Redlands, California. What started as a casual connection through a young Hasidic entrepreneur named Avi Mayer turned into a profitable venture, but Munger didn't dress it up as some grand strategic move. "I didn't start out with the idea to pick Redlands. It's just where this apartment project that caught my attention was," he said.

He spoke fondly about the partnerships that blossomed from that chance encounter, even poking fun at his own motivations. After discussing the extensive landscaping investments in his properties, he joked, "Jack, you're probably doing it out of love, and I know how much better it's going to work for me [financially], so I don't deserve much credit. It's very much in my interest financially to plant all of those trees. Now, I would probably plant them anyway, but I can't prove that."

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Despite his tendency to downplay his own virtues, there was an undeniable warmth beneath Munger's pragmatism. He may not have seen himself as a noble soul, but his principles were rooted in fairness, long-term thinking, and a genuine appreciation for the people and opportunities that shaped his life. "The best way to get what you want in life is to deserve what you want," he stated in a 2007 Commencement Speech at USC Law—a mantra that guided both his business dealings and personal philosophy.

Munger passed away in November 2023 at the age of 99, leaving behind a legacy marked not just by immense wealth, but by a worldview that challenged the notion that financial success and ethical living are mutually exclusive. His life was proof that you don't have to be Mother Teresa to make a meaningful impact—you just have to be honest about who you are.

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