Billionaire Charlie Munger responds to criticism of his mostly windowless mega-dorm project: 'I'd rather be a billionaire and not be loved by everybody'

• The billionaire Charlie Munger donated $200 million to the University of California, Santa Barbara.
• In exchange for the money, the school agreed not to change Munger's blueprints for a mega-dorm.

The billionaire Charlie Munger isn't hearing criticism of his blueprints for a 4,500-student mega-dorm project at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"You've got to get used to the fact that billionaires aren't the most popular people in our society," Munger told MarketWatch over the weekend. "I'd rather be a billionaire and not be loved by everybody than not have any money."

Critics have blasted Munger's plans as resembling a prison more than a student dorm, as over 90% of the building's 4,500-plus occupants would live in windowless rooms. Munger has said he believes that would encourage interactivity among students.

The project hinges on a $200 million donation from Munger that includes a clause that says his plans cannot be changed. The dorm, named Munger Hall in honor of the billionaire's donation, is expected to cost about $1.5 billion.

Dennis McFadden, a UCSB consulting architect, lambasted the project and resigned from it last week, according to the Santa Barbara Independent. In his resignation letter, McFadden said he couldn't support the plans "from my perspective as an architect, a parent, and a human being."

Despite McFadden's quitting in protest, Munger is sticking to his guns.

"I think the building will be a huge success," he told MarketWatch, adding: "It's hard to get any two architects to ever agree about anything. Architecture is a game of trade-offs."

Munger isn't the only one shrugging off critics of the mega-dorm.

"The Munger Hall project and design is continuing to move forward as planned," a UCSB spokesperson told Insider last week. "We are delighted to be moving forward with this transformational project that directly addresses the campus's great need for more student housing."

Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@insider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a nonwork device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.