The death of financier Charlie Munger, who is called the “lieutenant” and “right hand” of legendary investor Warren Buffett at his company Berkshire Hathaway, has caused a wave of eulogies in a country that few expected: Communist China, Business Insider reports.

A general atmosphere of admiration and respect for Munger prevailed on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, where the American financier has been praised for both his longevity and his lifetime wealth.

At the time of his death, Munger owned $2.2 billion worth of shares in Berkshire, the investment company founded by Warren Buffett in 1970, and Forbes estimated his fortune at $2.7 billion.

Munger officially joined the company as a vice president in 1978, and for most of his career was known mostly as Buffett’s “clever lieutenant.” He was known for his edgy lines that captivated Berkshire’s loyal fans.

Charlie Munger is at the center of controversy over comments about China

At the end of his life, Munger was at the center of several controversies, often speaking out against the Communist government in Beijing, despite the unprecedented escalation of tensions between China and the West in recent decades.

He praised the communist country even after it cracked down on Chinese conglomerate Alibaba’s Ant Group, a fintech company founded by Jack Ma — Munger’s biggest investment in the Daily Journal, the Los Angeles-based newspaper publisher and investment firm that Munger ran from 1977 to 2022.

But despite his praise for the communist country, Chinese people praised Manger on Weibo and other Chinese social media platforms for his alleged “wisdom”.

Even some of the state media in Beijing joined in the praise. For example, the Communist government-owned TV channel The Paper published a list of Munger’s “Top 10 Investing Principles,” although the items read more like a life guide than investment advice.

Sina Finance, the press arm of one of China’s largest technology companies, published a similar list, and both that and the one published by The Paper went viral on Chinese social media.

The news of the death of “Lieutenant” Warren Buffett has spread across China

According to Business Insider, comments and posts about Munger received nearly 300 million views on Weibo alone in the hours after his death was announced.

Many praised Munger as a centenarian and a man who had been the head of a large family for several generations. He died a month before his 100th birthday.

“He was a hundred years old, he was a wise and rich investment master with many children and grandchildren, he passed away peacefully,” noted a well-known Chinese financial blogger on his “Investing Logically” page. “A real winner in life, I give credit to his wisdom,” he added.

“Live long, be rich, have children and grandchildren, what a perfect life,” another user wrote on Weibo.

“The wise man is dead. Thank you Munger for selflessly sharing your life wisdom,” said another man quoted by Business Insider.