David M. Solomon
David Solomon | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Michael Solomon January 17, 1962 Hartsdale, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | DJ D-Sol |
| Occupation(s) | Investment banker, electronic music artist, DJ |
| Known for | CEO and chairman of Goldman Sachs; DJ D-Sol music career |
David Michael Solomon (born January 17, 1962), also recognized by his stage name DJ D-Sol, is an American investment banker and electronic music artist who has held the position of CEO at Goldman Sachs since October 2018 and assumed the role of chairman in January 2019.
Prior to ascending to CEO, Solomon served as president and chief operating officer from January 2017 until September 2018, and before that, he was co-head of the investment banking division from July 2006 through December 2016. He took over as CEO from Lloyd Blankfein on October 1, 2018, subsequently becoming chairman following Blankfein's departure.
Alongside his financial career, Solomon produces and performs electronic dance music (EDM) under the alias D-Sol, with appearances at clubs and music festivals across New York, Miami, and The Bahamas.
Early life and education
Born around 1962 in Hartsdale, New York, Solomon’s father, Alan Solomon, served as an executive vice president at a small publishing firm, while his mother, Sandra, was employed as an audiology supervisor. Raised in Scarsdale, New York, he attended Edgemont Junior-Senior High School, worked part-time at a local Baskin-Robbins, and spent summers as a camp counselor in New Hampshire.
Solomon pursued higher education at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and governmental studies. In an interview with the Stanford GSB, he mentioned majoring in economics. During his college years, he played rugby and held the position of chapter president for the college’s Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.
Career
Following graduation, Solomon initially applied for a two-year analyst role at Goldman Sachs, but after being turned down, he joined Irving Trust, which he regarded as an invaluable "graduate school" experience within banking.
In 1986, he began working at Drexel Burnham starting as a commercial paper salesperson before shifting focus to the high-yield debt market. This background paved the way for his move to Bear Stearns, where he led the junk bond division and managed sales of riskier debt instruments. Among his notable transactions was assisting a financially troubled Dallas-based movie theater company in securing funding through a sophisticated bond issuance.
Goldman Sachs
Solomon became a partner at Goldman Sachs in 1999 within their leveraged finance group after collaborating with several managers there during the late 1990s. His transition from Bear Stearns surprised many industry observers who had anticipated his rise within that firm. Beginning in 2006, he directed Goldman’s investment banking division for ten years, professionalizing operations and doubling profit margins from 11% to 22%, alongside a 70% increase in revenues. A highlight includes orchestrating the IPO for LuLulemon Athletica in July 2007—during which he notably wore company apparel to a formal meeting. He also introduced "year-end compensation roundtables" aimed at thorough executive performance assessments. In 2014, Sheldon Adelson offered him operational leadership over Las Vegas Sands casinos; however, Solomon declined due to insufficient control authority.
According to SEC and IRS disclosures, Solomon’s base salary in 2015 was $1.85 million supplemented by restricted stock grants valued around $10 million. After Gary Cohn departed Goldman Sachs in December 2016 to join the Trump administration, Solomon was elevated to president and co-chief operating officer alongside Harvey Schwartz. Under their leadership, Goldman enhanced programmer salaries, modernized technological infrastructure, relaxed dress codes, implemented video-based interviews for recruitment, and adopted real-time employee performance evaluations. His compensation totaled $11.85 million both in January 2017 and January 2018. By early 2018, Solomon owned roughly 224,030 Goldman Sachs shares worth approximately $58 million. His total remuneration reached $27.5 million in March 2020 when including salary, bonuses, and long-term incentives.
In March 2018, Schwartz stepped down as co-COO and president, positioning Solomon as Lloyd Blankfein’s primary successor and sole second-in-command. Blankfein publicly endorsed Solomon’s succession during a board meeting held in February 2018. Advocating cultural change within Goldman Sachs, Solomon sought to reduce excessive work hours—from nearly 90 weekly during peak periods to about 70–75 hours during quieter times—and actively tracked employee hours to promote better work-life balance. He officially assumed the CEO role on October 1, 2018.
Goldman Sachs reduced Solomon’s compensation for the year 2020 by nearly 40% due to its involvement in the 1MDB scandal that culminated in a $3.2 billion settlement with authorities across four nations. While he earned $27.5 million for fiscal year 2019, his pay dropped to $17.5 million for 2020 following this adjustment.
In November 2022, Solomon participated as a speaker at the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit held in Hong Kong despite criticism from groups such as the Hong Kong Democracy Council and certain members of the U.S. Congress who contended that attendance by financial executives lent legitimacy to ongoing restrictions on freedoms under Hong Kong’s national security law.
Additionally, Solomon is affiliated with The Business Council based in Washington, D.C.
Music
Solomon frequently takes the stage as a disc jockey under the alias "DJ D-Sol," creating and performing a broad spectrum of electronic dance music (EDM). His appearances span prominent nightclubs and music festivals across locations such as New York, Miami, and the Bahamas. To promote his musical endeavors, Solomon curates the Instagram profile "@davidsolomonmusic." In June 2018, he unveiled a rendition of the Fleetwood Mac classic "Don't Stop," which gained placement on Sirius XM's BPM: Electronic Dance Music Hits channel and was featured in Spotify's "Happy Summer Beats" playlist. His Spotify account attracts 550,000 monthly listeners, with his initial single accumulating 8 million streams. Subsequent to this launch, Solomon established a SoundCloud presence to distribute extended mixes and live sets. His most recent track, "Someone Like You," reached the #4 spot on the Billboard Dance Club Chart in November 2020.
Payback Records
In December 2018, Solomon initiated Payback Records through a collaboration with Big Beat/Atlantic Records. The label directs all generated revenue toward philanthropic initiatives including addiction recovery programs, hunger alleviation, and COVID-19 relief efforts. Solomon releases his original compositions exclusively via Payback Records.
One notable release from the label is the single "Break This Habit" by house DJ Oliver Heldens, featuring Kiko Bun, produced in partnership with Heldeep Records.
Discography
| Title | Year released | Song details |
|---|---|---|
| "Don't Stop" | 2018 |
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| "Feel Alive" | 2019 |
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| "Rescue Me" (feat. Alex Newell) |
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| Dzeko & DJ D-Sol - "Down on It" (feat. Kool & the Gang) |
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| "Electric" (feat. Hayley May) | 2020 |
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| "Someone Like You" (feat. Gia Koka) |
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| "Only a Fool" (DJ D-Sol Remix) |
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| "Learn to Love Me" (ft. Ryan Tedder) | 2021 |
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| "Dreaming" (feat. SMBDY) [VIPMix] |
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| Jennifer Lopez - "On My Way" (David Solomon Remix) | 2022 |
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| Whitney Houston - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (David Solomon Remix) |
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| "Heatwave" (feat. RobbieJay) |
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| "Cross Your Mind" |
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Chart rankings
| Song Title | Highest positions on charts | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay | Billboard Dance Club Songs | Billboard Hot Dance/Electronica | |
| "Don't Stop" | 39 | — | — |
| "Feel Alive" | 4 | — | — |
| "Rescue Me" | — | 4 | 37 |
| "Someone Like You" | 4 | — | — |
| The symbol "—" indicates that the track either did not enter the charts or was not released in that market. | |||
Live appearances
Solomon's live performances include notable events such as the Electronic Music Awards held in Los Angeles in 2017 and a Sports Illustrated Super Bowl gathering in Miami during 2020, where he performed alongside Marshmello and Black Eyed Peas. On April 9, 2018, he delivered a remix of "The Pink Panther Theme" at a charity event organized by Hamilton College focusing on the opioid crisis. He has also performed alongside esteemed DJs including Paul Oakenfold and Galantis. In 2020, Solomon appeared as himself in a guest role on the Showtime drama series Billions.
In May 2022, Solomon took part in the silent disco segment at BottleRock Napa Valley in California. Subsequently, in July, he performed at the Lollapalooza festival. All earnings from these shows were directed to charitable causes.
Safe & Sound benefit concert
On July 25, 2020, Solomon served as the opening act for the Chainsmokers during the "Safe & Sound" charity concert, designed to exemplify audience safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The event underwent scrutiny by New York health officials due to numerous social distancing breaches. Representatives from Goldman Sachs confirmed that Solomon departed prior to the conclusion of the concert.
Personal background
Solomon is of Jewish heritage. In 1989, he wed Mary Elizabeth Solomon (née Coffey) in Bernardsville, New Jersey. The couple has two daughters and finalized their divorce in early 2018. Since 2002, he has lived at The San Remo on Manhattan's Upper West Side; this residence was listed for sale at $24 million in 2016. Additionally, he acquired a 13,000-square-foot property in Aspen, Colorado, in 2004 for $4 million and put it on the market for $36 million in 2016.
In January 2018, his personal assistant was arrested and charged with pilfering roughly 500 bottles from Solomon's rare wine collection valued at $1.2 million, including seven bottles from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. The assistant subsequently died by suicide shortly before a scheduled court appearance related to this theft.
Since 2005, Solomon has been a member of the board of trustees at Hamilton College, assuming the role of chairman on July 1, 2021. He also serves on the board of the Robin Hood Foundation, an organization dedicated to combating poverty within New York City.
See also
Explanatory notes
Additional resources
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1962 births
- 21st-century American business executives
- American chief operating officers
- American Jewish individuals
- Goldman Sachs chief executive officers
- Alumni of Edgemont Junior – Senior High School
- American electronic dance music artists
- Goldman Sachs personnel
- Hamilton College (New York) graduates
- Living individuals
- Business figures from Scarsdale, New York
- Residents of the Upper West Side
- Junk bond traders
- Bear Stearns employees
- Goldman Sachs people