Want to be rich long term, depressed and miserable in PE. Hope in Corporate?

Is my dream of owning a greenwich waterfront dead if I rage quit out of PE right now? Currently a senior associate at a UMM that treats its employees worse than prisioners. I need out ASAP. If I get the VP promote I will have to grind for 5-7 years, VPs at my firm work 8AM to 11pm-12am every night and almost every weekend.

Looking at a very very strong and lucky corporate offer of ~$360k all in (non-tech, sponsor owned). Not really interested in finding a chiller buyout firm, they all seem shit and evil. 

Only have ~$250k to my bank account and currently 26 (2 years IB, 2 years PE). I know the dream of being fuck you rich is dead, but do I have a decent shot at normal rich? Also akowledge this post is pretty retarded. 

17 Comments
 

$350k all-in is only a lot of money to 26 year olds and people living in Winston-Salem North Carolina.

The math isn’t what you’ll make now in either seat, its the trajectory.

Baseline PE comp trajectory will put you squarely into the multi-million per year within 10-12 years. Baseline in corp will put you at 400-700k within 10-12 years.

The difference between $700k and $2.2m a year is $375k after tax or $1.1-1.5m. Meaning you’ll be banking $500-750k a year in one case and $50-100k in the other.

In neither case however will you be buying a Greenwich waterfront house ($10-20m)… unless you’re an absolute assassin and glutton for pain and very lucky. Ie you kill it in PE.

The real math is that you hate your life and you’ll likely flame out before getting to the baseline PE path. Maybe corporate is the best path for you. But you should dramatically reset my wealth expectations.

 

I’m not sure if even becoming comfortably wealthy through private equity or investment banking is as achievable as it once was, unless you’re a top-performing Managing Director at an elite boutique. I was told the median MD at my firm’s investment banking division (bulge bracket) in New York earns around $1.25 million in total compensation, which seems relatively modest considering it often takes 15+ years to reach that level and can come with significant personal sacrifices. Meanwhile, a Vice President in the private wealth management division of my bank may earn more by building a strong client base and developing excellent sales and relationship management skills, while typically working 50–60 hours per week.

 

Delectus aut accusamus odio ab deserunt. Sit voluptates hic ex vel.

Fugit eum dignissimos id nemo soluta sint qui. Qui qui numquam sed omnis tempora hic.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 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

July 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

July 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

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 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 (356) $61
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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”