Popular American journalist Ben White dies suddenly aged 52 as his heartbroken partner reveals he had 'brief illness'

A prolific finance journalist with a career spanning more than three decades has died following a 'brief illness.'

Ben White, 52, passed away on Saturday. He served as Politico's chief economic correspondent before his death and was a frequent CNBC contributor.

The veteran journalist's partner, Sara Schneider, broke the news in a post to White's account on X, formerly Twitter, where he boasted over 100,000 followers.

'I’m heartbroken to tell you that Ben died on Saturday, June 1 after a brief illness,' Schneider wrote.

'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.'

Before joining Politico in 2009, White earned accolades for his coverage of the Great Recession during his tenure at The New York Times.

The 52-year-old served as U.S. banking editor and Wall Street correspondent for the Financial Times between 2005 and 2007.

His byline has cropped up in other publications including The Washington Post, where he served as a staff writer for nearly a decade.

White worked at Politico until September 2023, authoring the outlet's 'Morning Money' column, which focused on finance and public policy.

After learning of his death, other journalists took to social media to share fond memories of their friend and colleague.

Washington Post reporter Dan Diamond described him as '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,' Diamond wrote, adding that he wished White could see the 'deluge of tributes.'

Politico's Jack Shafer dubbed White 'a great comrade, a fine journalist, and the coup de Ville of sport fans.'

Chuck Todd, chief political analyst for NBC News, said he was 'at a loss for words.'

'Ben’s a former Hotliner and was just, frankly, one of the good ones, both as a person and a journalist. I’m so so sorry for his family,' he wrote.

Political reporter Marc Caputo recalled working with White at The Messenger and Politico.

'Over the years, whenever I had an economic question, Ben was an always available source,' he wrote. 'We were friends. This hurts.'

Author and financial policy expert Joshua Rosner described the 52-year-old as a 'gentleman' and 'one of the last of a breed of journalists who fought for right through truth and was always a friend of goodwill and decency.'

'I will miss him deeply but will always cherish my memories of him,' Rosner wrote before directing his attention to White's grieving family.

'I know there are no words adequate to reach your sorrow or the sorrow of the boys, but I know as tears subside you will be left with pride and smiles in the memory of a person so rare,' he said.

Schneider posted a tribute to her personal Instagram account on Tuesday.

'I'm so sad to say that my love Ben died on June 1,' she wrote. 'I will never forget him. The sweetest, funniest, loving, and most complicated guy I've ever known. Will love him forever.'

White is survived by his partner and three sons.