Blackstone CEO recollects company journey on 40-year anniversary

Company Overview & Strategy - Blackstone was founded 40 years ago with $400,000 in capital, initially focusing on private equity (LBOs) [2][3] - The firm's strategy involves expanding into new money management areas to benefit customers and build large businesses [4] - Diversification is a key strategy to mitigate risks associated with focusing on a single business [5] - Blackstone has grown to offer 85 strategies, managing nearly $13 trillion in assets, starting from an initial $400,000 [6] - The company introduces approximately two new products per year, focusing on customer satisfaction and performance [7] Investment in Data Centers & AI - Blackstone aims to become a major owner of data centers, driven by the growth of AI [8] - The company recognized the potential of AI early on, similar to the impact of electricity [10][11] - Blackstone acquired QTS for $10 billion in 2021, which has since grown 14 times in size [11]