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Is Equinox Private Equity Owned?
🔴 PRIVATE EQUITY OWNED
Equinox
Includes Equinox Fitness, Equinox Gym
luxury gym · New York, NY
PE Firm
Related Companies / Various PE
Year Acquired
2006
“Where $300/month memberships subsidize billionaire politics and billion-dollar debt.”
The PE Playbook
- •Owner Stephen Ross hosted a $250,000-per-ticket Trump fundraiser in 2019, triggering mass boycotts and membership cancellations
- •Raised $1.8 billion in 2024 just to refinance $1.2 billion in pandemic-era debt — while hiking NYC member prices ~11%
- •Launched a $40,000/year 'longevity' membership tier while sister brand Blink Fitness filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- •Standard memberships now run $205-$395/month depending on location
Since the Acquisition
- ▸Budget subsidiary Blink Fitness collapsed in August 2024, owing $400 million — budget gym members who couldn't afford Equinox were collateral damage
- ▸New York Attorney General forced Equinox to pay $600,000 in penalties for making it deliberately difficult to cancel memberships
- ▸Launched a $40,000/year 'Optimize' membership that doesn't even include a basic gym membership
- ▸Standard memberships now start at $250/month, pushing middle-class consumers out entirely
Sources
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Equinox owned by private equity?
Yes. Equinox is currently owned by Related Companies / Various PE, which acquired it in 2006. Where $300/month memberships subsidize billionaire politics and billion-dollar debt.
What happened to Equinox after the acquisition?
Budget subsidiary Blink Fitness collapsed in August 2024, owing $400 million — budget gym members who couldn't afford Equinox were collateral damage New York Attorney General forced Equinox to pay $600,000 in penalties for making it deliberately difficult to cancel memberships
Who owns Equinox?
Equinox is owned by Related Companies / Various PE, which acquired it in 2006.