Did you know Goldman Sachs CEO was moonlighting as a DJ? Until this happened

Most people know David Solomon as the CEO of Goldman Sachs, one of the most powerful investment banks in the world. But did you know that, for years, he also moonlighted as a DJ? Spinning electronic dance music under the name DJ D-Sol, Solomon performed at high-profile venues, including Manhattan nightclubs, the Bahamas, and even the massive Lollapalooza music festival.

However, his side gig came to an abrupt halt in 2023, after Goldman Sachs’ board reportedly became concerned that his musical endeavors were a distraction from his leadership role. While the bank initially played down any tensions, stating that “music was not a distraction from David’s work,” the growing media attention around his DJ career seemed to tell a different story.

David Solomon’s passion for music wasn’t just a hobby—it was a full-fledged second career. Even before taking over as Goldman Sachs’ CEO in 2018, he had been spinning records and remixing tracks for years. As DJ D-Sol, he carved out a niche in electronic dance music, gaining a fan base beyond Wall Street. He even made a cameo in the hit TV series Billions, promoting Goldman Sachs’ Marcus savings account—a media appearance that seemed to have the bank’s approval.

Perhaps Solomon’s biggest claim to musical fame was his remix of Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me). The rights to Houston’s music are controlled by Primary Wave Music, a Goldman Sachs client, raising eyebrows about possible conflicts of interest. But while the financial world may have questioned his DJ persona, his music was undeniably gaining traction.

Solomon’s DJ career took a hit in 2020, when he was accused of violating social distancing rules at a high-profile party in the Hamptons during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event sparked controversy, with critics suggesting it reflected poorly on Goldman Sachs' leadership during a time of global crisis. While the bank tried to downplay the incident, it added fuel to the ongoing debate about whether a sitting CEO of one of the world’s biggest financial institutions should be moonlighting as a performer.

Despite this, Solomon continued to DJ at select events. However, by 2023, the pressure from Goldman Sachs’ board seemed to reach a tipping point. He officially stepped away from his DJ career, with the bank stating that the media attention had become a “distraction.”

While Solomon has since hung up his headphones, his foray into the music world remains a unique chapter in the history of corporate leadership. His ability to balance the high-stakes world of finance with a genuine passion for electronic dance music was, in many ways, unprecedented. Yet, it also raised questions about how much personal expression is acceptable for top executives at global financial institutions.

For now, Solomon remains focused on leading Goldman Sachs through economic challenges and shifting market conditions. But his legacy as DJ D-Sol—whether embraced or frowned upon by the bank—will undoubtedly remain a fascinating footnote in Wall Street history.