As December unfolds and the air fills with festive anticipation, Wall Street embraces its own distinctive version of the holiday spirit. The arrival of this particular season brings with it a much-anticipated tradition for insiders and observers alike — Blackstone’s annual holiday video, a creative production that seamlessly blends corporate self-awareness with lighthearted entertainment.
This year’s video, released in celebration of Blackstone’s fortieth anniversary, is a witty and exaggerated homage to the firm’s origins in the 1980s. Through a carefully orchestrated balance of humor and nostalgia, the piece opens with a narrative style reminiscent of Ken Burns’ iconic documentaries, complete with a dramatic voice-over that is swiftly replaced by a demand for greater flair and ‘pizzazz.’ From there, viewers are treated to a cascade of scenes that reveal an unexpected side of the world’s largest private-equity giant — one filled with choreography inspired by classic 1980s cinema, complete with executives performing dance routines evocative of the film *Dirty Dancing*. What might otherwise seem a mere parody becomes a playful reflection on the company’s evolution and its willingness to embrace laughter at its own expense.
Within the video’s imaginative storyline, several of Blackstone’s leaders embody the firm’s so-called “mid-life crisis.” One executive appears sporting a rebellious nose ring, while others dramatically pursue new passions like purchasing elite sports franchises or even the luxury automaker Ferrari itself. The production also features a constellation of cameos that heighten its star power. Actor Danny DeVito, known for his impeccable comedic timing, appears as a caricatured pitchman for overly complex financial products, overflowing with industry jargon. Another notable guest appearance comes from David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, who steps into the frame not merely as a corporate figure but as his well-known alter ego — a DJ — blending his financial and musical personas to humorous effect.
Lasting approximately seven and a half minutes, the video concludes with a cinematic flourish: a parody that lovingly references the cult classic *Back to the Future*. In this closing sequence, Blackstone’s CEO, Steve Schwarzman, joins President Jon Gray in an imagined time-travel adventure that symbolizes both reflection on the firm’s rich history and a playful glance toward its future trajectory.
For regular followers of Blackstone’s creative endeavors, this installment comes as no surprise. The company has, over the years, cultivated a reputation for its quirky and entertaining holiday productions. In fact, this marks the eighth consecutive annual video, each one further refining its unique blend of self-deprecating humor and cultural commentary. Business Insider even maintains a power ranking to assess how each new release stacks up against its predecessors — evidence of the genuine public interest these videos now command.
It may seem odd that a firm so deeply rooted in financial pragmatism would devote significant time, effort, and resources to crafting such an elaborate piece of holiday entertainment. Yet the reasoning behind it is both strategic and deeply human. As Blackstone’s leadership has explained, the tradition began in 2018, when the company’s New York holiday party became logistically unmanageable due to its sheer size. In seeking an inclusive, representative substitute, the video format emerged as a modern solution — one capable of engaging not only employees but also clients and the broader business community. During a recent conference, Jon Gray emphasized that these holiday videos serve as an opportunity for the institution to “make fun of ourselves,” an unusually candid statement from the head of a global investment powerhouse. This self-irony, conveyed through polished production and clever storytelling, helps to humanize the brand, reminding audiences that behind its immense assets and corporate gravitas resides a group of individuals capable of humor, creativity, and introspection.
Despite its levity, the 2025 edition of Blackstone’s video also carries an emotional undercurrent. It ends with a heartfelt tribute to Wesley LePatner, a talented Blackstone executive who tragically lost her life in a shooting incident at the company’s New York City headquarters during the past summer. The closing message, simple yet profoundly moving, acknowledges that she “always made us smile.” By incorporating this memorial note, the production achieves a balance between joy and remembrance — celebrating the enduring bonds of its corporate family while paying respect to the fragility of life and the strength found in shared community.
Ultimately, what began as an unconventional substitute for an office party has evolved into a defining element of Blackstone’s corporate culture — one that demonstrates the firm’s ability to merge professionalism with playfulness. In combining humor, nostalgia, and sincerity, the annual holiday video has become far more than a seasonal curiosity; it stands as an emblem of how even the most powerful institutions can use creativity to cultivate connection, foster internal unity, and express authentic appreciation for the people who give their work meaning.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/bi-today-sunday-newsletter-blackstone-holiday-video-2025-12
