Jon Gray

Gray is a Wall Street titan with roots as a busboy in his mother’s catering business.

He joined Blackstone Group in 1992, fresh out of college, before rising from the firm’s M&A and private equity divisions to eventually take the reins of its real estate business.

Under his leadership, Blackstone’s real estate platform became the world’s largest, managing $325 billion in capital and orchestrating landmark deals such as buying Sam Zell’s commercial portfolio, Equity Office Properties Trust, and the $26 billion buyout of Hilton Hotels in 2007.

Appointed Blackstone’s COO in 2018, Gray has overseen the firm’s expansion to $1.2 trillion in assets under management, broadening its client base to include insurance companies and individual investors while emphasizing thematic investing across business lines. Gray is also a key member of Blackstone’s management and investment committees.

Gray’s influence extends beyond finance. He has also developed a following for his informal running-and-talking LinkedIn videos, where he pairs breezy business commentary with his daily workouts.