Blackstone led the pack with $16.4 billion worth of completed deals, while Carlyle Group and KKR rounded out the top three, with $14.9 billion and $14 billion respectively. TPG, with $12.6 billion and Apax with $11.5 billion followed closely behind.
Carlyle distributed $15 billion to investors over the first nine months of 2011, more than the $14.9 billion in deals listed. 2011 was also the year Carlyle co-founder David Rubenstein topped all D.C. donors. My guess is Rubenstein hates coming in #2.