The founder of Spanx has surprised her employees with $10,000 each and first-class tickets to a destination of their choice.
Last week, it was reported by CNN Business that the shapewear brand, founded by Sara Blakely, was now valued at $1.2 billion after Blackstone bought a majority stake in the company.
Blakely celebrated the incredible achievement by rewarding the very people who make the business what it is - her employees.
So, the 50-year-old entrepreneur gifted each and every staff member two first-class tickets to any destination in the world, along with $10,000 worth of spending money.
Blakely announced the Blackstone partnership and the incredibly generous gifts at a staff gathering - complete with fancy balloons and glasses of champagne. In the above footage of the event, the businesswoman teases the gift by asking her staff: "Why am I spinning the globe?"
Moments later she revealed: "I was spinning the globe because to celebrate this moment, I have bought each one of you two first-class tickets to anywhere in the world."
Her employees then proceeded to cheer as she continued: "If you go on a trip you might want to go out to a really nice dinner, you might want to go out to a really nice hotel, and so with everybody’s two first-class tickets to anywhere in the world, you are each getting $10,000."
Last week, Blakely took to Instagram to announce that Blackstone had bought the majority stake in the business.
She revealed in the post: "People have asked me for 20 years, 'When will you sell Spanx?' And for 20 years I would say… 'I’ll just know.' Well, that day is today. I’m proud to say I’ve partnered with @blackstone who has purchased the majority of Spanx. With all my heart I love this brand.
"With all my heart I will continue to love this brand. I will remain a significant shareholder and continue to help the business fulfill its greatest potential, as well as continue to fulfill my greatest passion - elevating women."
Sharing her excitement for the future of the brand, which she launched 21 years ago, she shared that she "can’t wait to see what we can do for our customers with Blackstone’s full global resources behind us."
Blakely continued: "I’m eternally grateful to the customers, employees (past and present), vendors, retailers, friends, and family who stood by me while I took the leap. Let today inspire all the dreamers out there who care the most."
