As of December 28, 2024, the landscape of private equity in the United States is dominated by several key players, with Blackstone Group leading the pack. Founded in 1985 by Stephen Schwarzman and Peter Peterson, Blackstone boasts approximately $1 trillion in assets under management (AUM) and is known for its significant investments in companies like Hilton Worldwide and Refinitiv 1.
Following Blackstone is The Carlyle Group, established in 1987 by David Rubenstein, William Conway, and Daniel D’Aniello. Carlyle manages around $400 billion and has notable investments in Booz Allen Hamilton and DuPont 1. KKR, founded in 1976 by Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts, holds approximately $530 billion in AUM, with investments including First Data and Toys 'R' Us 1.
TPG, which was founded in 1992 by David Bonderman, Jim Coulter, and William S. Price III, has about $140 billion in AUM and is recognized for its investments in J.Crew and Spotify 1. Apollo Global Management, established in 1990 by Leon Black, Joshua Harris, and Marc Rowan, manages around $550 billion, with key investments in ADT and Caesars Entertainment 1.
Bain Capital, founded in 1984 by partners from Bain & Company, including Mitt Romney, has approximately $170 billion in AUM, with investments in Staples and Canada Goose 1. Lastly, Silver Lake Partners, founded in 1999, manages about $90 billion and is known for its investments in Skype and Alibaba 1.
These firms not only dominate the private equity space but also significantly influence various industries, including healthcare and technology. The recent projections from Blackstone regarding private equity exits in North America, which are expected to double by 2025, highlight the ongoing vitality and potential of this sector 2. With a robust investment climate and increasing confidence among billionaires in North America, the future of private equity looks promising 3.