Episode Details

In this episode, we dive into the history and massive footprint of Blackstone Inc., the American alternative investment giant. We trace the firm’s origins back to 1985, when founders Peter Peterson and Stephen Schwarzman launched the company with just $400,000 in seed capital. We explore how Blackstone evolved from a mergers and acquisitions advisory boutique into the world's largest alternative investment firm, boasting over $1.2 trillion in assets under management as of 2025,.

Tune in as we break down:

• The Massive Portfolio: How Blackstone acquired household names across industries, including Hilton Hotels, Ancestry.com, Bumble, and the owner of Legoland,,.

• Real Estate Dominance: The firm's pivot to real estate, including the purchase of the Willis Tower and huge investments in single-family rental homes after the subprime mortgage crisis,.

• Controversies: We discuss the ethical challenges the firm has faced, from child labor violations at a slaughterhouse cleaning subsidiary to data privacy concerns and alleged connections to Amazon deforestation,,.

• Recent Tragedy: We cover the tragic July 2025 mass shooting at Blackstone’s Manhattan headquarters that resulted in the death of a senior managing director and three others.

Join us for a deep look at the financial titan that owns everything from your hotel room to your genetic data.