New Delhi, June 1 -- In the middle of the 2008 global financial crisis - when fear gripped markets and investors rushed to safety - late investing legend Charlie Munger spotted an opportunity that would go on to become one of the most profitable bets in the history of Berkshire Hathaway.

At Munger's insistence, Berkshire Hathaway acquired nearly 10% stake in the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD for $225 million in 2008. What began as a contrarian investment during one of the worst financial crises eventually turned into a multi-billion-dollar success story, with Berkshire reportedly earning profits of around $10 billion by the time it substantially exited the investment in 2025.

But what convinced Munger to back a little-known Ch...