The Man Behind @GSElevators Speaks Out
Perfect picture for this situation
Business Insider – Many months ago, I tweeted about totaling a new Maserati, which is something that actually happened to me. I should have seen it coming; I was so intoxicated when I bought the car (just 5 days previously) that the dealership had to drive me home in it. Right after that tweet, I had a few friends email me and say that I must be the person behind GSElevator. Again last year, when I collaborated with CNBC’s John Carney to put together our fantastic piece, “How to Be A Man,” I received a few more emails from people identifying me as the source. After all, recommending a hair cut by Sammy at the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong is hardly subtle. He’s so old and so shaky that it’s always been a running joke of mine to send visiting colleagues his way for a straight razor shave. And it’s happened again and again over the last few years. So, I’ve never shied away from projecting my true personality in the @GSElevator Twitter feed. It’s part of that same personality that has always flown close to the sun, and, of course, has had a colorful and distinguished career on Wall Street. Along the way, I’ve never worried about making enemies or becoming a lightening rod for criticism. I’ve always been fine with that; I embrace it. However, in light of recent events, I thought it was prudent to provide a bit of clarity and context around my Twitter account, the book, and me as a person.
Being outed has always been part of the plan…
The issue of my anonymity was simply a device, and one that has suited the construct of the Twitter feed. GSElevator has never been an anonymous person. It’s not a person at all. It’s the embodiment or aggregation of “every banker,” a concentrated reflection of a Wall Street culture and mentality. Being anonymous had this enigmatic mystery and intrigue; it protected my privacy, but also prevented me as a person from getting in the way of the message. But to be clear, it was never about hiding. In fact, I’ve always expected to be outed, especially given the sensitive and personal nature of many of the stories coming in the book. It’s part of the process – liberating me to speak even more candidly and credibly about the vantage point from which I have observed and enjoyed my outrageous Wall Street experiences.
The Goldman Sachs Elevator twitter account is one of the only “parody” type of comedy accounts I follow. Its almost a home run tweet every time if you’ve ever experienced any of the Wall Street douchebags that exist in this city. The fact that he never even worked for Goldman almost makes it that much better. Like the Goldman reputation is that douchey that it was just too easy of a choice to use them to start this entire mockery of the finance culture. Pretty interesting read about him if you’re intrigued by that sort of stuff.
PS – The Maserati story is cocky