Billionaire CEO Kenneth C. Griffin, who leads the multinational hedge fund Citadel LLC and founded Citadel Securities is someone who we all would dream of as a boss. He made a dream come true for 1,200 of his staff and their family members which many can only imagine. The New York Post reported that he funded a three-day trip to Tokyo Disneyland for his 1,200 employees and their families.
He gave 3 days’ leave from October 27 to 29 and brought together employees from six branches, including Sydney, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Gurugram. The employees had the opportunity to explore both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, alongside their spouses and children. This was not it! He even arranged a private performance by Maroon 5 and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris to make the celebration even more special.
The team of employees came together to celebrate Citadel’s 30th anniversary and Citadel Securities’ 20th anniversary. The trip was long due as it was postponed due to challenges posed by COVID-19. In addition to the magical trip, Kenneth also provided express passes, which allowed them to bypass the queues and enjoy popular attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain, with ease.
The CEO also shouldered all the expenses related to travel, meals, entertainment, Disney tickets, accommodations, and childcare for the entire group.
He ensured that all his employees received expedited passes that allowed them to skip the long queues for major rides and other popular attractions. A single-day pass to Disneyland Tokyo typically ranges from 7,900 yen to 10,900 yen (Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000). All his 1,200 employees received tickets and so Griffin shelled out almost $87,336 (Rs 72 Lakh) for just one day at the park, excluding the fast passes that allowed his staff to skip the lines.
Mr. Griffin took the stage at the anniversary celebration, before the introduction of Maroon 5. He addressed the attendees, saying, ‘Today, the range of talent we have brought together is simply astonishing. We’ve created not one but two firms at the forefront of the industry. Together, we have imagined and built the future of finance.”
This is not the first time he has made such a generous gesture. The previous year in December, Kenneth surprised his staff in the United States, Canada, Europe, and their families.
To celebrate their collective accomplishments throughout the year, the CEO reserved the entire Disney World for their exclusive use. He went the extra mile by covering the costs of park tickets, accommodations, and a diverse range of meals, from sushi to delectable lamb chops and paella.
