Billionaire CEO Flies Over 1,000 Employees and Their Families to Tokyo Disneyland for Concerts, Parties, and Park Access Citadel and Citadel Securities founder Ken Griffin treated 1,200 employees in the Asia-Pacific Division to a delayed celebration for the company's 20th and 30th anniversaries.

By Emily Rella Nov 1, 2023

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Ken Griffin certainly knows how to throw a party — for his employees, that is.

The billionaire and founder of Citadel and Citadel Securities treated an estimated 1,200 employees from the company's Asia-Pacific offices to Tokyo Disneyland in October — with all expenses paid, including travel, food, and accommodations.

Last year, the company sent 10,000 employees to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, in December to celebrate Citadel Securities' 20th anniversary and Citadel's 30th anniversary (the real anniversary dates were in 2020 but were not commemorated due to the pandemic and related restrictions).

Members of the company's Asia-Pacific division, however, could not attend due to certain COVID-related protocols that were still in place, so this Tokyo Disney event is a celebration for those who had to opt out of last year's.

^{The Walt Disney Co. characters perform as they sail in front of Mount Prometheus around the Mediterranean Harbor during the "Minnie Bestie Bash!" show at Tokyo DisneySea (Getty Images)}

Guests were reportedly treated to a special party on Saturday that included performances by Maroon 5 and Calvin Harris. Employees and their families were also gifted express passes to Tokyo Disneyland for the weekend.

Griffin himself attended alongside the CEO of Citadel Securities, Peng Zhao.

Citadel and Citadel Securities doubled headcounts in the companies' Asia-Pacific region over the last three years, per Bloomberg, with Citadel planning to open a Tokyo office next year.

In January, Citadel made history after clocking in a $16 billion profit after fees for 2022 — the highest ever recorded by a hedge fund.

Griffin's net worth is an estimated $35.4 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Most Popular

See all

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

By Peter Diamond

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

By Ben Angel

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

By Amanda Breen

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

By Cynthia Kay