What is the point of partnership at Goldman Sachs?

I do not understand what "being a partner at GS" means. I understand that Top consulting firms and Big4 companies use Partnership as the equity holders of the firm, and they distribute dividends among partners. But GS is a public company, anyone can buy GS shares and become "owner" of the bank, so what really is a Partner at Goldman Sachs. Is it just a status level in the internal hierarchy? 

What is the difference between a Partner and a Managing Director

Why only GS have partners among BB

Do partners at GS get access to a portion of dividends? If so, why do main shareholders allow it?

44 Comments
 

GoodBread

GS was one of the last big banks to go public, it's an honorific carryover that comes with nice comp. Still, it's nothing like what the actual partners got paid when GS went public.

Interestingly I remember reading about a couple of promotions in the commodities team (both this latest round and the round before that). Not bad for a group which is meant to be ostracised. It suggests what was mentioned above about making people up to prevent them from jumping ship to the buy-side, competitors etc.

 

It's not just an honorific. There are HUGE benefits that come with being Partner besides pay and prestige. You get lifetime access to a lot of things, including GS's research/GS360/etc, which normal MD's don't have access to post-GS employment. The difference between Partner and MD is comparable to, if not greater than the difference between MD and VP.

 

False, you need a net worth $100mm AND be a corporate/institutional client to even be considered for access to the portals. For Credit research access, you also need to be a MIFID professional in EMEA/Asia/LatAm to gain access. Former partners getting access to the institutional portal is most certainly a great benefit (and it’s not the only benefit).

 

Aside from ridiculously high comp and bonus, another actual benefit to being a partner at GS is that you’re allowed to invest your own money in certain of the firm’s PE / alternative asset funds which can be highly profitable

 

It took me five minutes to google this article on the benefits of making partner at GS.  Not to mention, much of the information in this article is being touted by members on this forum as their own.  I suppose it's the intent of the lazy or of the vain to not site their work, but if we did - it sure would reveal how much we rely on one another...  Enjoy the read.

https://www.businessinsider.com/becoming-a-partner-at-goldman-sachs-201…

"A man can convince anyone he's somebody else, but never himself."
 

It took me five minutes to google this article on the benefits of making partner at GS.  Not to mention, much of the information in this article is being touted by members on this forum as their own.  I suppose it's the intent of the lazy or of the vain to not site their work, but if we did - it sure would reveal how much we rely on one another...  Enjoy the read.usps tracking

that's helpful!!

 

Facere quis earum dignissimos quia architecto et. Enim delectus consequatur sed magni sapiente unde rerum inventore. Voluptatum sint assumenda aut quasi dolorum vero fuga. Debitis sequi ut possimus amet sint id ut. Voluptatem provident quis voluptas.

Expedita quis expedita rerum aperiam ab. Praesentium eius debitis quibusdam eum inventore rerum commodi. Amet quas exercitationem sapiente ad esse qui quae. Asperiores quia sunt rem enim.

Tenetur reiciendis quo velit id nobis quis. Facere error mollitia ut. Enim sit qui odio et.

Eveniet quia nostrum iure eos. Iure est et quia maxime et esse quisquam laborum. Qui vitae sunt et nobis sint dicta voluptatem laboriosam.

 

Impedit eveniet quidem fugit sed distinctio quia tenetur. Omnis dolorum facere ipsum. Iusto porro voluptate quam eius. Nemo ut dolores id magnam quis autem. Nesciunt neque nihil aut et nulla sint quidem.

Dignissimos sit inventore qui libero. Perferendis est iste incidunt dolor.

Ad mollitia quidem iusto consequatur quidem tenetur eum. Voluptate laboriosam fuga dolore odio sequi voluptas optio. Libero voluptatem libero voluptatem voluptatum dicta consectetur consequatur laboriosam. Soluta consequuntur perferendis earum distinctio. Rerum debitis omnis et sint. Provident in suscipit voluptatem sapiente deserunt.

In quia quaerat velit adipisci ut sapiente. Expedita quae maiores sunt ea sint. Iste deleniti consequatur ad quis totam. Omnis est natus velit voluptas fugiat minima. Quibusdam tenetur est id dignissimos itaque ea mollitia.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”