Path to the Megafund πŸ™

I'm an incoming full time IB analyst at a LMM bank. What is the ideal path to make it to a PE megafund? My plan right now is to do approx 4 years in banking (and work upstream), maybe one in consulting (top-tier firm like McKinsey), and then go get my MBA at Wharton / Harvard. Any critiques?

5 Comments
 

1 year at your current bank 

2 years at a BB/EB 

Then MF 

Def don't need to work for MBB too or get MBA, Most MFs also don't hire many ppl post biz school, just ask the stars back 

 

Agree with the above, lateral to BB/EB at one year mark, do a third year so you can do oncycle, and hope you land MF. If not, aim for MM/UMM and try to move upstream once you're already in PE. Hopefully you have an excellent GPA and undergrad school, if you have like a 3.0 from a non target MFs are not going to interview you even from BB/EB

You cannot really go into PE post-MBA without having done it pre-MBA, so can drop that idea. 

 

Voluptatem quia velit itaque. Dolores rem soluta sequi dignissimos quia.

Quia quidem iusto aut eveniet ut cumque et quae. Ut necessitatibus repudiandae vitae vero. Molestias doloremque et ullam eveniet.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $62
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

β€œ... 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

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