Blackstone Inc., formerly known as The Blackstone Group, is the world's largest alternative asset management firm and a publicly traded global entity specializing in private equity, real estate, credit, infrastructure, hedge funds, and other investment strategies. Founded in 1985 by Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarzman in New York City, the firm began as a mergers and acquisitions advisory business leveraging the founders' experience from Lehman Brothers. Over the decades, Blackstone has grown into a global powerhouse, managing over $1.2 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, 2025, through leveraged buyouts, commercial real estate acquisitions, and diverse portfolio companies across sectors like hospitality, energy, and technology. The firm operates under core principles of accountability, excellence, integrity, teamwork, and entrepreneurship, focusing on delivering value to institutional and individual investors while emphasizing long-term growth and positive societal impact.

Blackstone's business model includes four primary areas: real estate, private equity, hedge fund solutions, and credit and insurance. Notable investments include the 2012 acquisition of G6 Hospitality (Motel 6) for $1.9 billion, financing Knight Capital in 2012, and the 2011 purchase of Jack Wolfskin, which was later transferred to lenders in 2017. The firm went public in 2007 and has since expanded globally, with significant inflows of capital, such as $225.4 billion over the last twelve months ending September 2025. Blackstone maintains strong relationships with institutional investors and has divested interests in ventures like BlackRock, which it co-founded in 1988 and sold in 1994. Its scale enables investments in dynamic sectors, including energy transitions, as seen in recent acquisitions like Alliance Technical Group.

As a publicly traded entity, Blackstone reports robust financials, with 2024 revenues exceeding $13 billion and fee-related earnings of $5.3 billion. The firm employs between 1,000 and 5,000 professionals worldwide and is headquartered at 345 Park Avenue in New York. While celebrated for its investment acumen, Blackstone has faced scrutiny over its role in leveraged buyouts and real estate practices, though specific controversies are documented in broader market contexts rather than isolated legal actions in available records.