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5.The Big Earner

Blankfein

Blankfein was able to show real regret for Goldman Sachs’s role in the financial crisis (the investment bank was heavily involved in the subprime-mortgage market and simultaneously bet on a property market crash), but was unable to entirely shed his investment banker skin. By the end of 2009 the bonus pool at Goldman Sachs stood at $21 billion, and he drew a «modest» bonus of $9 million. Two years earlier – after similarly good results – he had received a record-high bonus of $69 million. Even then Blankfein was well on the way to becoming a salary billionaire, which according to «Forbes» he achieved in 2015.

6. The Credit Suisse Helper

When Credit Suisse was convicted of tax fraud in the U.S. in 2014 Blankfein stood by it. Goldman Sachs would maintain its business links with the Swiss bank, he said. He went out on a limb since the conviction carried the threat of Credit Suisse being barred from managing pension fund assets in the U.S.

7. The Public Voice

Blankfeen

Blankfein was late to appreciate the impact of social media. He only became active on Twitter after Goldman Sachs had fully shaken off the fallout from the financial crisis. In addition Blankfein also demonstrated for the first time his interest in social and political issues. «I am Lloyd Blankfein, CEO and chairman of Goldman Sachs, and I support equality in a marriage», he was cited in a human-rights campaign. He later admitted his stance had cost the bank at least one big client.

Since Donald Trump became U.S. president, Blankfein has become a regular critic on Twitter – apparently unimpressed by the fact that Goldman Sachs legend and his own promoter Gary Cohen, is active in the Trump administration. «The view from our building reminds me that despite all the 'sh...' American values will shine through», he tweeted earlier this year in response to Trump’s description of some countries as «shithole countries».

 8. The Comedian

Blankfeins alleged or planned resignation has been closely followed by the media, and he has commented on this speculation with an increasingly humorous tone. He once remarked laconically that every passing day meant one day fewer left as Goldman Sachs CEO, and brought his departure forward by one day. After the «Wall Street Journal» in March forecast his imminent departure, Blankfein twittered: «It's the @WSJ's announcement...not mine. I feel like Huck Finn listening to his own eulogy..»

Later he gave a more telling response to the media speculation: «The story isn’t right, but it can’t be wrong forever. When things are going badly you can’t leave. When things are going well you don’t want to go. And thus by definition one has to leave when one doesn’t want to.»

On Twitter Blankfein has demonstrated a great talent for grabbing attention. For instance his response to Brexit: