Irate CNBC Viewers Threaten to Kill Jim Cramer

Henry Blodget | April 4, 2008 11:30 AM

Some CNBC viewers express their loathing of Jim Cramer by threatening to kill him, Cramer says. Having gotten some death threats of our own back in the day, we find this very easy to believe.

You can't open your mouth as an analyst/commentator without pissing someone off, and no matter what you say, a certain species of near-human will occasionally react by threatening to kill you:

“You know, look, obviously I’ve had a lot of death threats,” Cramer said. “They’re actual death threats. And, you go to the state police and the state police go to the local police and the local police call the guy and that’s what you have to do, or you bring suit against them. I’ve had to do a lot of that.”

Cramer emphasized his active response to anyone who threatened his life.

“You know, the death threats are not cool,” Cramer said. “You know, anybody with a death threat, I go after them with everything I have.”

As well he should.

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33 Comments

Dana Mauch said:

Apr. 04, 11:42 AM

People would not deliver death threats to Cramer if they just would not take him seriously. I tell people, Dr. Phil isn't a doctor, Judge Judy isn't a judge, and Cramer is not a money manager. They are all entertainers. They get paid to entertain us.

Henry Blodget said:

Apr. 04, 11:47 AM

Absolutely right. And being a highly successful entertainer ain't nothing to be ashamed about.

kevindwhite said:

Apr. 04, 12:09 PM

I wonder what the CEO/TrailerPark ratio is on those death threats.

az said:

Apr. 04, 12:21 PM

the following statement does not neccessarily reflect my personal view. i heard it last year from someone whom i have great respect for & is sort of a mentor to me:

any one who invests money based exclusively on jim cramer's financial advice deserves to lose all their money

anonymouse said:

Apr. 04, 12:51 PM

Interesting history on Cramer..

http://www.deepcapture.com/jim-cramer-is-a-complicated-man/

el perro said:

Apr. 04, 1:11 PM

I wouldn't take such things very seriously. People say all kinds of stupid things online due to the anonymity. Hell, I've gotten death threats for some of the comments on left on YouTube.

jeff sultan said:

Apr. 04, 1:23 PM

Cute girlfriend in the picture!! As far as Cramer's expertise, just check the performance of his charitable trust--absolutely horrible.

chris Siebrasse said:

Apr. 04, 1:31 PM

I believe the "cute girlfriend" is Mrs. Elliott Spitzer.

AZ said:

Apr. 04, 1:40 PM

Chris, you are correct. It is Mrs. Elliott Spitzer!

Henry sure has his ways! Sweet.

ASL3676 said:

Apr. 04, 2:01 PM

Dear Henry,

Has anyone figured out who bought all of those Bear puts the day before the collapse? Was it a Goldman trader?
What have you heard?

FM said:

Apr. 04, 2:57 PM

CNBC; the dumb down, bozo, Sesame Street of business news. Cramer is at least genuine compared to others on that E channel.

Treadmill said:

Apr. 04, 2:58 PM

Quite a photo. She can be my client 9 any time. Cramer is a national treasure. My afternoon treadmill session would be dead without him. He is entitled to be as wrong as often as he likes.

Robert59 said:

Apr. 04, 3:08 PM

Well, he wouldn't get death threats if he wouldn't give crappy advice. He's worse than Dr. Phil. He's telling you what to do with your money and people who follow his advice have been burned.

Since I don't play the market he is nothing but entertainment. He does provoke thought, but he doesn't engender me to take risk.

Others play the market and look to him for financial counseling. They have a hunch and go to him for a second opinion.

If he was a doctor he'd have lost his license.

How do you think that man feels who Cramer browbeat to hold onto his shares of Bear Stearns? Lose a bunch of money and see how quickly your blood boils.

Cramer like Dr. Phil doesn't caveat anything he says as 'entertainment.' He doesn't even recommend getting an opinion from another professional.

GENO said:

Apr. 04, 3:28 PM

Cramer isn't just an "entertainer," he represents himself as an expert stock picker.

Anyone who follows his "picks" (and Googles studies of his "picks")...knows that he's no better than throwing a dart.

JC said:

Apr. 04, 4:49 PM

He's very entertaining. I have made some money from his advise - also lost some as well. You take his advise and do your homework first.

Jimmy ShoeShine said:

Apr. 04, 5:50 PM

Do you think Cramo is bangin' Ms. Spitzer, Henry?

L Kern said:

Apr. 05, 9:38 AM

Cramer is like a lot of other analysts - useless. See, the Chicago Tribune has it correct when they discovered that a monkey tossing darts at the stock index did better... EVERY TIME, over the so-called experts.
If they knew so much, they'd be billionaires and we'd know little of them because they'd keep their mouths shut.
Anyone who thinks Cramer's advice is gold needs a new head with a better brain in it. You are fools.
Hell, these people can't even analyze something correctly AFTER it happens. "Why did that stock go down... Joe? Bill? Connie?" They'd have three or ten different answers.

OverCramer said:

Apr. 05, 12:18 PM

I seriously doubt anyone called and said, "Hi, I'm a CNBC fan and I'm gonna kill you." More likely a devastated Bear Stearns investor.

JustObserving said:

Apr. 05, 12:37 PM

Here is Cramer's record from Jan 2007:

"The research is straightforward enough. I looked up the recap of Mad Money Lighting Round at Seeking Alpha and tabulated Jim Cramer’s bullish and bearish calls. I then calculated one-year returns from the second (market) day he made the calls.

Bullish: If a bullish call has a one year return higher than that of the S&P 500, it is a right call. If not, it’s a wrong call.

Bearish: If a bearish call has a one year return lower than the S&P 500, it is a right call. Otherwise it’s a wrong call.

I calculated the accuracy of his calls by this formula: Accuracy = right call/all calls. I also determined what return a loyal Cramer follower would have made if he/she had bought all of his bullish calls and sold all of his bearish calls.

In January of 2007, Jim Cramer made a total of 194 bullish calls and 123 bearish calls. Out of the 194 bullish calls, 60 are right calls. Out of the 123 bearish calls, 53 are right calls. The accuracy of Jim Cramer’s bullish calls is 30.93% and that of his bearish calls is 43.1%. The combined accuracy is 35.6%. "

Even a coin flip will get you 50% right. Cramer is without peer as a contrary indicator.

dave said:

Apr. 05, 3:22 PM

Cramer is frequently in good stocks, but he is very late, and timing is everything. He should STFU re stocks, he does hurt people. The fool and his money etc. I'm sure his out right lies about his track record sent some of these wackjobs over the edge. He is a jackass, drags the network lower, and that's saying something.

JayLogger said:

Apr. 09, 12:44 PM

Regarding Cramer's record...
First off, Cramer has ALWAYS stated that one needs to do his/her OWN homework. ANYONE who just buys a stock because someone says it looks good, whether that be Cramer, a Merrill Lynch or Goldman Sacks wealth manager is foolish if they don't research it themselves. So that does make one think that the Lightening Round is more hype than anything, but If one thinks Cramer is a bad with his recommendations, the same can be said of the brokerage firm advisors. I've receieved worse advise from them.
Second, if you want to rate Cramer's performance, see where he puts his money (granted a charity now)!
His charitable portfolio up 26% vs 17% on the S&P since inception.

Jay said:

Apr. 29, 6:48 PM

Jim Cramer is a pompous know-it-all who indeed "know(s) nothing!" When CNBC is stupid or desparate enough to have Jim guest host the morning show, he dominates the conversation by talking over whichever invited guest happens to be speaking. I can't stand the guy. His picks are reactive as opposed to proactive and he seems to be a very reliable contrarian indicator. I wish CNBC would dump him, or at the very least, limit his air time to his ridiculous "Mad Money" time slot.

Porcupine said:

May. 28, 4:08 PM

Lol.

Cramer is worth upwards of $50 million..

If any of you whiners were successfully independent you wouldn't be sitting here crying about him.

Those that can, do. Those that can't, cry.

AmericanWoman said:

Jun. 28, 9:08 AM

kevindwhite said:Apr. 04, 12:09 PMI wonder what the CEO/TrailerPark ratio is on those death threats.

You have terrible manners, young man. Who raised you to behave that way? Money doesn't buy you class, fyi.

I'm sorry Cramer has to deal with death threats, people don't take adult responsibility for their actions and choices, anymore. It doesn't surprise me, they even threatened to rape and kill his children on the Yahoo Financial boards. We used to lock people like that up in mental institutions before they became a risk to others, but politicians don't want to spend the money or brain power to address the issue anymore. What's the difference between them and a terrorist from overseas? They live on your block and are prowling around every internet site you go on.

I believe the lady in the picture is a reporter, maybe she's a friend of Cramer's. Who cares?

Dave said:

Jul. 31, 10:51 AM

It's not the ones that treaten to kill him that he needs to worry about. It's the ones that have a plan, but never say a word.

LSLarry said:

Jul. 31, 10:58 AM

Crammer is an entertainer. Anyone that bases an investment on a statement by someone walking around with a large knife, or using a band-saw, or biting the heads off rubber animals, or slamming sound fx buttons, deserve to lose their money. Why do you think CNBC plays a disclaimer before and after his comments/show?

Amazing Larry said:

Aug. 17, 7:40 PM

He's apparently getting hammered with death threats again regarding his bashing of SIRI during the SIRI/XM merger financing. This caused the PPS to immediately sink 12% in AH and cost the shareholders millions. He is a puppet for Goldman Sachs that can enforce their will via his Mad Money audience. I do not condone violence, but it wouldn't bother me a bit either to hear of hi demise.