Ben White, a long-time CNBC contributor and Politico’s chief economic correspondent, died Saturday after a “brief illness.”
His partner, Sara, announced the news in a post to X on Tuesday, writing that she is “heartbroken.”
“He loved his family, being a journalist, rooting for the Yankees and the Commanders and so much more. He’ll forever be in my heart and will be missed by so many,” she added.
This is Ben’s partner, Sara.
I’m heartbroken to tell you that Ben died on Saturday, June 1 after a brief illness. He loved his family, being a journalist, rooting for the Yankees and the Commanders and so much more. He’ll forever be in my heart and will be missed by so many. 💔— Ben White (@EconomyBen) June 4, 2024
White started his journalism career at The Washington Post in 1997, and had been a regular contributor at CNBC since 2013. He also covered finance and public policy for Politico in his Morning Money newsletter.
Business Insider once described the newsletter as a “must-read,” and White himself as a “must-follow” online.
His writing also appeared in The New York Times, Financial Times and defunct publisher The Messenger.
On Tuesday, following the news of White’s passing, many of his colleagues and friends paid their respects on social media.
“Shocking news. Ben was an outstanding reporter and human. We all looked up to him,” wrote journalist Brian Stelter in an X post.
Shocking news. Ben was an outstanding reporter and human. We all looked up to him. https://t.co/eUJragW3m7
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 4, 2024
Politics reporter Marc Caputo said that White’s “memory is a blessing.”
“I worked w/Ben at The Messenger & @Politico where, after I was first hired in 2015, his advice was invaluable when I started Florida Playbook. Over the years, whenever I had an economics question, Ben was an always available source. We were friends. This hurts,” Caputo wrote.
This is horrible. I’m so sorry.
Ben was kind and generous in an industry that often isn’t. Editors invoked him as a model at Politico — he became a newsroom legend — and he was always supportive as I tried to find my footing.
Also wish he could see this deluge of tributes.
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) June 4, 2024
Washington Post reporter Dan Diamond called White a “newsroom legend” in a post of his own, adding that “Ben was kind and generous in an industry that often isn’t.”
Additional details regarding his cause of death have yet to be released. White is survived by his two sons and his partner, Sara.
