Wall Street's Rainmakers: The 20 bankers who hammered out 2025's biggest deals
Business Insider
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Wall Street's investment bankers made a significant comeback in 2025, driving a massive rebound in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity that reached $4.6 trillion globally—a staggering 50% increase from the previous year. Business Insider, in partnership with MergerLinks, identified the top 20 M&A dealmakers who played pivotal roles in this resurgence, negotiating deals worth tens of billions and fueling Wall Street's dealmaking boom. Notably, eight of these bankers were advising either Netflix or Paramount on their high-stakes battle for control of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking an unprecedented concentration of banking firepower around a single transaction.
The list featured both seasoned veterans and rising stars, including nine newcomers and two notable first-time appearances from Wells Fargo, which has been making strides in investment banking after regulatory changes lifted restrictions tied to its fake-accounts scandal. Jeffrey Hogan of Wells Fargo topped the list with $153.4 billion in deal value, advising Netflix on its contested $80 billion merger for Warner Bros. Discovery. Other prominent figures like Sam Britton of Goldman Sachs and Anu Aiyengar of JPMorgan Chase also ranked highly, contributing to major deals across industries such as technology, media, and consumer health.
The resurgence of M&A activity was driven by large, strategic consolidations, with the Warner Bros. Discovery deal standing out as a defining transaction of the year. The competition between Netflix and Paramount for control of the media giant highlighted the immense stakes involved, not only for the companies but also for the banks advising them. This deal alone has the potential to significantly impact the coffers of the involved investment banks.
The rankings underscored the growing influence of boutique firms like Centerview Partners and RedBird Advisors, which have been making waves with high-profile deals despite their smaller size. The year also saw Goldman Sachs retain its top spot in M&A league tables, thanks in part to deals led by Sam Britton and Timothy Ingrassia. JPMorgan Chase, under Anu Aiyengar's leadership, also maintained its position as a dominant player in the advisory space.
Overall, the 2025 M&A boom reflects a shift in Wall Street's fortunes after a sluggish period, with dealmakers playing a crucial role in shaping the business landscape.
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/23/2026