Top 100 Private Equity Firms

$1 trillion+ AUM | New York, NY

The largest alternative asset manager on the planet. Stephen Schwarzman and Pete Peterson started with $400,000 and a dream in 1985 and built the most dominant force in private equity, real estate, credit, and hedge fund solutions.

Schwarzman's 70th birthday party reportedly cost $20 million and featured performances by Gwen Stefani and Rod Stewart.

$577 billion AUM | New York, NY

The firm that invented the modern leveraged buyout. Henry Kravis and George Roberts turned corporate acquisitions into an art form, starting with the legendary 1989 RJR Nabisco deal that inspired the book and movie 'Barbarians at the Gate.'

The $25 billion RJR Nabisco buyout in 1989 was the largest LBO in history at the time and remained so for nearly two decades.

$671 billion AUM | New York, NY

Founded by Leon Black, Marc Rowan, and Josh Harris in 1990, Apollo became a juggernaut in distressed debt and credit investing before expanding into one of the largest alternative managers in the world. Known for contrarian bets and complex structured deals.

Apollo co-founder Josh Harris now owns the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Commanders, and New Jersey Devils.

$426 billion AUM | Washington, DC

The ultimate Washington insider firm. Founded by David Rubenstein, William Conway, and Daniel D'Aniello in 1987, Carlyle built a global empire leveraging deep relationships with governments, defense contractors, and sovereign wealth funds worldwide.

David Rubenstein has donated over $600 million to philanthropy, including buying a copy of the Magna Carta for $21.3 million and lending it to the National Archives.

$222 billion AUM | Fort Worth, TX & San Francisco, CA

Founded by David Bonderman and Jim Coulter in 1992, TPG made its name with bold turnaround bets like Continental Airlines and J. Crew. A true dual-coast powerhouse that went public in 2022.

Bonderman's investment in Continental Airlines turned a $66 million stake into over $1 billion when the airline recovered from bankruptcy.

$185 billion AUM | Boston, MA

Spun out of Bain & Company in 1984 by Mitt Romney and partners. Bain Capital pioneered the consulting-to-buyout pipeline, bringing rigorous operational improvement to portfolio companies. Iconic deals include Staples, Dunkin' Donuts, and Burger King.

Bain's early investment in Staples turned $2 million into $300 million, one of the greatest PE returns of all time.

$83 billion AUM | New York, NY

One of the oldest and most respected growth equity firms, founded in 1966. Warburg Pincus has invested in over 1,000 companies across 40+ countries, with a legendary track record in Asia and emerging markets.

Warburg Pincus was an early investor in BharatPe, Ant Group, and countless other global fintech winners before fintech was even a word.

$252 billion AUM | Luxembourg

Europe's largest private equity firm by assets. Founded in 1981 as the private equity arm of Citibank before a management-led buyout. CVC has been behind blockbuster deals across European consumer brands, sports, and industrials.

CVC bought a stake in La Liga (Spanish football league) for $2.2 billion, one of the largest sports investments ever.

$160 billion AUM | Chicago, IL & San Francisco, CA

The undisputed king of software buyouts. Thoma Bravo has acquired or invested in over 490 software and technology companies, building a reputation for buying enterprise software firms and driving margin expansion through operational excellence.

Thoma Bravo's playbook is legendary in tech: buy enterprise software, improve margins by 1,000+ basis points, and exit at a premium. It works nearly every time.

$90 billion AUM | Boston, MA

A global powerhouse with a particular strength in Latin America and Europe. Founded in 1984 by Peter Brooke, Advent has completed over 415 investments across 42 countries, specializing in business services, healthcare, and technology.

Advent's investment in Lululemon in 2005 turned into one of the most celebrated retail private equity returns of the 2000s.

$100 billion AUM | Austin, TX

Founded by Robert F. Smith in 2000, Vista focuses exclusively on enterprise software and data-driven businesses. Smith built one of the most successful sector-focused PE firms in history with a relentless operational improvement methodology called Vista Consulting Group.

Robert F. Smith famously paid off the entire student loan debt for the Morehouse College Class of 2019 -- roughly $34 million.

$102 billion AUM | Menlo Park, CA

The premier technology-focused private equity firm. Co-founded by Glenn Hutchins and Jim Davidson in 1999, Silver Lake has been behind iconic tech deals including Dell's take-private, Skype, and Airbnb.

Silver Lake's role in the $24.4 billion Dell take-private in 2013 was one of the most consequential tech deals ever. Dell went private and came back stronger.

$100 billion AUM | San Francisco, CA

A San Francisco-based mega-firm known for large-cap buyouts in financial services, insurance, and software. Founded in 1984 by Warren Hellman and Tully Friedman, the firm is famous for its concentrated portfolio approach and long hold periods.

H&F's investment in Axel Springer, the German media giant, helped transform it from a print publisher into a digital powerhouse.

$60 billion AUM | Los Angeles, CA

An LA-based firm with a golden touch in consumer and retail. Founded by Leonard Green in 1989, the firm has backed Whole Foods, J. Crew, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Petco -- household names that millions of Americans shop at daily.

The firm's founder, Leonard Green, started his career as a tax attorney before pivoting to private equity and building a consumer retail empire.

$55 billion AUM | New York, NY

One of the oldest PE firms in the business, founded in 1978. CD&R is known for operational improvement and has a distinctive model of embedding senior operating partners into portfolio companies to drive real change.

CD&R's former chairman, Joe Rice, is considered one of the founding fathers of the private equity industry and a mentor to an entire generation of dealmakers.

$130 billion AUM | Stockholm, Sweden

The largest private equity firm in the Nordics and one of Europe's most respected. Founded in 1994 by the Wallenberg family's Investor AB, EQT combines Scandinavian values with global ambition across buyouts, infrastructure, and venture.

EQT was one of the first major PE firms to go public in Europe, listing on Nasdaq Stockholm in 2019.

$925 billion AUM | Toronto, Canada

A Canadian colossus that is one of the world's largest alternative asset managers. Brookfield's roots go back over 100 years, and today it dominates in real estate, infrastructure, renewable power, and private equity across 30+ countries.

Brookfield owns and operates more hydroelectric power plants than almost any private entity on Earth.

$428 billion AUM | Los Angeles, CA

Founded in 1997 by Antony Ressler and partners, Ares has become a credit and direct lending powerhouse while building significant private equity and real estate businesses. A go-to firm for middle market and special situations.

Ares co-founder Tony Ressler also owns the Atlanta Hawks NBA franchise.

$84 billion AUM | New York, NY

A global growth equity giant founded in 1980 by Chuck Feeney, the billionaire who gave away his entire fortune. General Atlantic backs high-growth companies in technology, healthcare, consumer, and financial services worldwide.

Founder Chuck Feeney secretly gave away $8 billion through Atlantic Philanthropies, achieving his goal of 'Giving While Living' before his death.

$80 billion AUM | London, UK

A European private equity heavyweight founded in 1985. Permira has been behind iconic deals like Hugo Boss, Dr. Martens, and Reformation, and has a strong footprint in technology, consumer, and healthcare across Europe and beyond.

Permira's investment in Dr. Martens revitalized the iconic boot brand and led to a successful London IPO in 2021.

$50 billion AUM | London, UK

One of the premier European buyout firms, founded in 1977 as the investment arm of the British Coal pension fund. Cinven has evolved into a major independent firm specializing in healthcare, technology, and business services across Europe.

Cinven's investment in CeramTec, the medical ceramics manufacturer, showcased their ability to find hidden gems in niche industrial sectors.

$65 billion AUM | London, UK

A British private equity legend founded in 1969. Apax has operated for over five decades, investing across tech, healthcare, consumer, and services. Known for long-term conviction and deep sector specialization.

Apax was one of the earliest European PE firms to embrace technology investing, backing companies that would define the digital economy.

$90 billion AUM | New York, NY

A growth equity and venture powerhouse founded by Jeff Horing and Jerry Murdock in 1995. Insight specializes in high-growth software and internet companies, with a massive portfolio including Twitter, Shopify, and DocuSign at key stages of growth.

Insight Partners has backed over 800 companies and has had more than 55 IPOs from its portfolio.

Part of Blackstone | New York, NY

The credit arm of Blackstone, originally founded as GSO Capital Partners in 2005 by Bennett Goodman, Tripp Smith, and Doug Ostrover. Now fully integrated into Blackstone, it is one of the largest credit platforms in the world.

GSO's founders all came from Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and built the credit platform that became a cornerstone of Blackstone's diversification strategy.

$48 billion AUM | Beverly Hills, CA

Founded by Tom Gores in 1995, Platinum Equity specializes in M&A, operations, and transition capital for complex carve-outs and divestitures. Gores built a Beverly Hills powerhouse by buying divisions that large corporations wanted to shed.

Tom Gores also owns the Detroit Pistons and has poured resources into revitalizing downtown Detroit.