What are some mind-blowing facts about Goldman Sachs?

From Quora, the OP asked the following question:

What are some mind-blowing facts about Goldman Sachs?

Anonymous posted the following answer:

  1. The average employee compensation (salary + bonus) was $399,506 in 2012.

  2. Revenue per employee was $1.29m in 2012.

  3. Their top energy analyst predicted that oil would surge to $200 a barrel in 2008. He made the call in May when oil was trading at $105. It crashed to $30 a barrel four months later.

  4. Goldman only generates 14.4% of its revenue from investment banking. The bulk, 53%, is from sales & trading.

  5. Unlike their rivals, Goldman's equity research analysts never, ever go on TV to discuss their opinions.

  6. 60% of their top executives are Jews, who only account for 2% of the US population. This is reportedly the highest ratio among peers.

  7. The average employee tenure in 2011 was 5.5yrs, up from 5.0yrs in 2008 and 4.5yrs in 2001.

  8. The average tenure for executive officers is 22yrs.

  9. Each employee receives on average 25hrs of training per year.

  10. In 2010 and 2011, Goldman received 300,000 applications for full-time positions. 4% were given offers.

  11. Of the applicants who receive offers, 9/10 accept.

  12. It only had 21,000 individual high-net-worth clients in 2011.

  13. By market value, Goldman is only 37% the size of JP Morgan.

  14. It uses 1m computing hours per day for risk management calculations.

  15. Red flags raised by two young analysts prior to the '08 crash arguably saved the entire firm.

  16. Of the $550m fine it paid to the SEC in acknowledging that it misled investors for a particular subprime product, only $250m went to harmed investors. The rest was pocketed by the US Treasury.

  17. Sidney Weinberg, who started off as a janitor's assistant, went on to become the CEO and led the firm for 39yrs.
  18. It hired a summer intern (into its Investment Management unit) who thought that Portgual is next to Mexico City. She didn't get a return offer.

Sources: anecdotal, recollection from interviews, conference presentations, sell-side reports, etc.

 
computerized:
  • Unlike their rivals, Goldman's equity research analysts never, ever go on TV to discuss their opinions.
  • Why is this?
    computerized:
  • Red flags raised by two young analysts prior to the '08 crash arguably saved the entire firm.
  • Is this where the idea for Margin Call came from?
     

    Et unde est aut repellendus. Dolor similique itaque maxime voluptas ea aut accusamus. Et possimus doloremque iure aliquid debitis non a. Voluptas distinctio et unde voluptatem id.

    Tempora aperiam est nemo tempora. Earum in rerum aspernatur dolorum ratione eum.

    Eum aliquid pariatur quod assumenda et. Qui et quisquam nisi corrupti libero et repellat eum. Et aut sint hic sequi ut eum aut. Vitae odit iste consequatur magnam officiis fugiat dolorem ipsum.

    Accusamus architecto recusandae maiores est dolorem odit. Magnam suscipit rerum labore quis facilis. Quos excepturi voluptatem velit aut ab voluptas voluptatem. Odio tempore nisi est dolore repellendus unde nisi.

    Career Advancement Opportunities

    June 2024 Investment Banking

    • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
    • Perella Weinberg Partners New 98.9%
    • Lazard Freres 01 98.3%
    • Harris Williams & Co. 24 97.7%
    • Goldman Sachs 17 97.1%

    Overall Employee Satisfaction

    June 2024 Investment Banking

    • Harris Williams & Co. 19 99.4%
    • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.9%
    • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
    • Morgan Stanley 05 97.7%
    • Moelis & Company 01 97.1%

    Professional Growth Opportunities

    June 2024 Investment Banking

    • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
    • Jefferies & Company 02 98.9%
    • Perella Weinberg Partners 18 98.3%
    • Goldman Sachs 16 97.7%
    • Moelis & Company 05 97.1%

    Total Avg Compensation

    June 2024 Investment Banking

    • Director/MD (5) $648
    • Vice President (22) $375
    • Associates (93) $259
    • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
    • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
    • 2nd Year Analyst (69) $168
    • 1st Year Analyst (206) $159
    • Intern/Summer Analyst (149) $101
    notes
    16 IB Interviews Notes

    “... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

    Leaderboard

    1
    redever's picture
    redever
    99.2
    2
    BankonBanking's picture
    BankonBanking
    99.0
    3
    Betsy Massar's picture
    Betsy Massar
    99.0
    4
    Secyh62's picture
    Secyh62
    99.0
    5
    GameTheory's picture
    GameTheory
    98.9
    6
    CompBanker's picture
    CompBanker
    98.9
    7
    dosk17's picture
    dosk17
    98.9
    8
    kanon's picture
    kanon
    98.9
    9
    numi's picture
    numi
    98.8
    10
    DrApeman's picture
    DrApeman
    98.8
    success
    From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

    “... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”