Billionaire investor Charlie Munger died Tuesday, just weeks short of his 100th birthday. Munger was vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and he was best known for his close partnership with CEO Warren Buffett. As WSJ’s Jason Zweig explains, Munger often played Buffett’s sidekick, but his investing expertise made him a celebrity in his own right. Further Reading: - Charlie Munger’s Life Was About Way More Than Money - The Secrets to Charlie Munger’s Success - Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s Partner and ‘Abominable No-Man,’ Dies at 99 Journal Swag: - ‘The Journal’ Merch shop
Before his downfall, Sam Bankman-Fried drew comparisons to Warren Buffett, J.P. Morgan and other titans of finance. As his trial approaches, WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff charts the meteoric rise of crypto’s golden boy, exploring how he sold customers and powerful people on his ideas, while hiding secrets under the hood of his flashy crypto empire.
Earlier this week, President Biden issued an executive order banning American firms from investing in some Chinese technology companies, citing national security concerns. WSJ s Andrew Duehren explains how the move fits into the complicated relationship between the two countries. Further Reading: - Biden Restricts U.S. Investment in China - Sequoia Made a Fortune Investing in the U.S. and China. Then It Had to Pick One. Further Listening: - The U.S. Wants American-Made Chips. Can Intel Deliver? - China’s Crackdown on Foreign Consulting Firms - Are Apple and China Breaking Up?
For decades, telecom companies have known that lead in their networks posed risks to workers, and did little about it. Lead can cause a variety of ailments in adults, affecting the kidney, heart and reproductive systems, and it is classified as a probable human carcinogen. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran explains the danger of lead cables and what telephone companies knew. Further Reading: - America Is Wrapped in Miles of Toxic Lead Cables - What AT&T and Verizon Knew About Toxic Lead Cables - Workers Exposed to Toxic Lead Cables Wrestle With the Aftermath - How the Journal Investigated Hidden Lead Cables Circling the U.S. Further Listening: - Part 1: America Is Wrapped in Toxic Lead Cables
After 35 years, Broadway s longest-running show is taking a bow. The Phantom of the Opera has sold more than 20 million tickets and grossed around $1.3 billion. MarketWatch’s Charles Passy explains what made it one of Broadway’s biggest hits. Further Reading: -He’s Seen ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ 13,000 Times