I love picking people. I started Blackstone, and we had no people, and now we have with our portfolio companies about 750,000 people all over the world. Everybody who is at a senior level has ultimately been picked by me.

My personal taxes are 53% of my taxable income. That's 36% on the federal level and 17% for state and local.

If I get angry, it's obvious. I don't have to say much.

It's wonderful to learn about new cultures and to be able to travel easily to so many countries.

I'm not feeling undertaxed. Tax reform is an important issue. You have to have an inherent sense of fairness.

I'm concerned with China growing at double or triple the rate of the West, that there will be tensions. One needs to do something to start addressing misunderstandings and frustration.

Down cycles are not fun. But they form the basis for enormous future profitability