Most people don't look at their house, imagine it in flames, and think, "Eh, I'll just write a check." But Charlie Munger wasn't most people.
In one of his final public appearances—just months before his death at age 99—the longtime vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway made a comment that raised eyebrows, especially considering the business he helped run. "Once I got rich, I stopped carrying fire insurance on houses," Munger said during the 2023 Daily Journal shareholder meeting. "I just self-insure."
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It was a surprisingly personal stance from the longtime vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that owns some of the biggest insurance businesses in the country—Geico, General Re, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, and more.
Still, Munger was unapologetic. "I'd rather tell it the way it is than tell it in a way that helps Berkshire," he said. "Even though it's bad for Berkshire, I want to tell you: if you can afford to self-insure, self-insure."
He clarified that he wasn't just talking about fire insurance. "In my own life, I'm a big self-insurer, and so is Warren," he said. "Why would you want to fool around with a claims process and all kinds of things?" His point was simple: if you're wealthy enough to absorb the loss, bypass the middlemen, avoid the red tape, and deal with problems directly.
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That's not to say Munger was advocating recklessness. He emphasized that the decision to self-insure only makes sense if you can comfortably handle the expense. "You should insure against things you can't afford to pay for yourself," he said. "But if you can afford to take the bumps... why would you want to fool around with some insurance company?"
And it's not an option for most people. If you have a mortgage, insurance isn't just recommended—it's required by lenders. Even homeowners who own their property outright might still be subject to homeowners association regulations or local ordinances that mandate certain types of coverage. In many cases, self-insurance isn't just risky—it's off the table entirely.