Who are the top 7 private equity firms?

The top 5 private equity firms in the world depend on how you measure size - fundraising, private equity assets under management (AUM), or overall influence. For a current industry benchmark, Private Equity International (PEI) ranks firms by how much capital they raise for private equity investments over a five-year period.

According to the 2026 PEI 300 ranking, published in June 2026, these are the top five firms by five-year fundraising. The Largest Private Equity Firms in the World

Top 5 private equity firms (2026)

1. KKR

New York, United States

$140.4 billion

Five-year fundraising

A global investment firm known for leveraged buyouts, infrastructure, private credit and investments in major businesses.

Website: kkr.com

2. EQT

Stockholm, Sweden

$134.4 billion

Five-year fundraising

A leading European private equity firm with investments in technology, healthcare, industrials and infrastructure.

Website: eqtgroup.com

3. Blackstone

New York, United States

$111.8 billion

Five-year fundraising

One of the world's largest alternative asset managers, active in private equity, real estate, private credit and infrastructure.

Website: blackstone.com

4. TPG

United States

$88.2 billion

Five-year fundraising

A diversified investment firm with strategies spanning private equity, growth investing, healthcare, technology and impact investing.

Website: tpg.com

5. Thoma Bravo

Chicago, United States

$71.9 billion

Five-year fundraising

A specialist in software and technology investments, particularly acquisitions of established enterprise software companies.

Website: thomabravo.com

Source: PEI 300, 2026 edition. Figures represent capital raised for private equity over the five-year measurement period, not total assets under management. The Largest Private Equity Firms in the World

Other firms worth knowing

Depending on the investment strategy, several other firms are considered industry leaders:

• Apollo Global Management - private equity, credit and insurance-related investments.
• The Carlyle Group - corporate buyouts, aerospace, defense and financial services.
• Bain Capital - buyouts, growth equity and special situations.
• Silver Lake - major technology and software investments.
• Vista Equity Partners - enterprise software and technology businesses.

Which ranking matters most?

• Largest by fundraising: KKR, EQT and Blackstone lead the 2026 PEI 300 ranking. The Largest Private Equity Firms in the World
• Largest by private equity AUM: Blackstone, KKR, Thoma Bravo, Brookfield and TPG lead a June 2026 comparison, although firms' reported AUM definitions differ. Largest Private Equity Firms by AUM: PE Firms by AUM in 2026
• Best for software investing: Thoma Bravo, Vista Equity Partners and Silver Lake are especially notable.
• Best for a private equity career: KKR, Blackstone, Apollo, Carlyle and Bain Capital are all worth considering, depending on the role and investment strategy.

Are you asking about the top firms for investing, getting a job in private equity, or selling a business to a private equity firm? The most relevant top five can differ substantially.

When evaluating the "top" private equity (PE) firms, the industry generally distinguishes between two metrics: total alternative assets under management (AUM) - which includes real estate, private credit, and infrastructure - and pure private equity capital raised (such as the prestigious PEI 300 rankings).

The top 5 global alternative asset managers with massive private equity platforms, ranked by overall scale and market influence, are:

1. Blackstone

• Headquarters: New York City, USA Top 100 Private Equity Firms: 2026 Rankings by AUM

• Scale: ~$1.35 trillion in total AUM (with roughly $350 billion dedicated specifically to private equity) Top Private Equity Firms in 2026: Rankings, AUM & Deal Activity

• Overview: Blackstone is the largest alternative asset manager in the world. While widely known for its massive real estate and private credit divisions, its private equity arm is a dominant global player executing large-scale buyouts, growth equity, and tactical opportunities. Top 100 Private Equity Firms: 2026 Rankings by AUM

2. KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)

• Headquarters: New York City, USA List of private equity firms - Wikipedia

• Scale: ~$744 billion to $758 billion in total AUM Top Private Equity Firms in 2026: Rankings, AUM & Deal Activity

• Overview : Consistently topping specialized private equity fundraising metrics (such as the PEI 300), KKR is a pioneer of the leveraged buyout (LBO). It invests heavily across traditional private equity, infrastructure, energy transition, and global credit. PEI 300: The World's Largest Private Equity Firms

3. Apollo Global Management

• Headquarters : New York City, USA List of private equity firms - Wikipedia

• Scale: ~$938 billion to $1 trillion+ in total AUM

• Overvi ew: Apollo is unique among mega-funds for its heavy integration of private equity with private credit and insurance solutions (via Athene). Its private equity strategy specializes in value-oriented buyouts, complex corporate carve-outs, and distressed assets. Top Private Equity Firms in 2026: Rankings, AUM & Deal Activity

4. EQT AB

• Headquarte rs: Stockholm, Sweden List of private equity firms - Wikipedia

• Sca le: ~$150 billion+ in total AUM, with over $134 billion in recent 5-year PE fundraising List of private equity firms - Wikipedia

• Overview: EQT is Europe’s largest and most globally dominant private equity firm. Backed by strong Nordic roots, it specializes in active ownership, digital transformation, healthcare, and infrastructure across Europe, North America, and Asia.

5. TPG (Texas Pacific Group)

• Headquar ters: Fort Worth, Texas, USA Top Private Equity Firms in 2026: Rankings, AUM & Deal Activity

• Scale: ~$150 billion to $260 billion in total AUM

• Overview: TPG is a premier global alternative asset firm specializing in private equity, growth equity, impact investing (through its Rise funds), and healthcare/technology buyouts.

Alternative Industry Benchmarks

Depending on the specific category you look at, other powerhouses frequently trade spots in the top tier:

• For Direct PE Fundraising (PEI 300): Firms like EQT , TPG , Thoma Bravo (software-focused), and CVC Capital Partners regularly challenge US mega-funds.

• For Sector Specifics: Thoma Bravo and Vista Equity Partners dominate software and technology buyouts, while Bain Capital and Advent International lead in large-cap multi-sector buyouts.

Are you looking at these firms from an investment perspective, looking to pitch a business, or researching career opportunities in private equity?

Determining the "top" private equity (PE) firms typically depends on whether you measure them by total assets under management (AUM) across all alternative asset classes or by historical fundraising over a five-year window specifically dedicated to private equity buyout and growth funds (such as the industry-standard PEI 300 ranking). The Largest Private Equity Firms in the World | PEI 30010 Largest Private Equity Firms by AUM - AlphaSense

The top 5 private equity and alternative investment powerhouses globally are widely recognized as follows:

• • 1. **Blackstone Inc.**
    

* **HQ:** New York, USA

* **Overview:** The undisputed heavyweight champion of alternative assets, Blackstone manages over $1.3 trillion in total AUM. While massive in real estate and credit, its flagship private equity deployment makes it a dominant leader in global deal-making. [Top 100 Private Equity Firms: 2026 Rankings by AUM](https://praxisrock.com/insights/top-private-equity-firms)

• 2. **KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.)**
  

  • HQ: New York, USA
  • Overview: A pioneer of the leveraged buyout model, KKR frequently trades top spots with Blackstone, leading recent global fundraising cycles with over $140 billion raised in dedicated private equity capital alone and nearly $800 billion in total AUM. [Private Equity International | PEI +1]

• 3. **Apollo Global Management**
  

  • HQ: New York, USA
  • Overview: Known for its aggressive value-driven buyouts and massive credit/insurance platform (via Athene), Apollo commands upwards of $950 billion to $1 trillion in total assets under management. [Praxis Rock +1]

• 4. **EQT Group (EQT AB)**
  

  • HQ: Stockholm, Sweden
  • Overview: Europe’s largest and most formidable private equity titan, EQT has expanded rapidly on the global stage, specializing in active ownership, infrastructure, and healthcare buyouts, consistently ranking near the very top of multi-year capital-raising tallies. [Private Equity International | PEI]

• 5. **TPG Inc. (Texas Pacific Group)**
  

  • HQ: Fort Worth & San Francisco, USA
  • Overview: A massive global alternative asset manager with over $300 billion in total AUM, TPG is famous for iconic growth and buyout investments across tech, healthcare, and consumer sectors (e.g., Airbnb, Spotify, Uber). [Private Equity International | PEI +1]

(Note: Other specialized giants likeThoma Bravo dominate specific niches like software and tech buyouts, while firms like Carlyle and Bain Capital routinely contend within the global top tier depending on the exact metric used). [Private Equity International | PEI +1]

Would you like to narrow this down by tech-focused PE firms , look closer at firm investment strategies , or explore career/recruiting prospects at these institutions?

By five-year fundraising, the top five are KKR, EQT, Blackstone, TPG, and Thoma Bravo, according to the 2026 PEI 300 rankings.(privateequityinternational.com)(en.wikipedia.org)

Here are the top 5 private equity firms in 2025, based on multiple industry rankings and reports:

🏆 Top 5 Private Equity Firms

📊 Notes

• Rankings vary depending on methodology (assets under management, deal activity, or enterprise value of portfolio companies).

• Apollo Global Management and Bain Capital also frequently appear in top 10 lists, but Blackstone, KKR, Thoma Bravo, Carlyle, and EQT consistently dominate across sources.US 250 Ranking: Top Private Equity Investors in the US | GainGrowthCap Announces The Top Private Equity Firms of 2025

Would you like me to break down what sectors each of these firms are most active in (e.g., tech, healthcare, energy)? That way you’ll see not just who’s on top, but where they’re making the biggest moves.