SPANX founder stuns employees with big surprise to celebrate $1.2 billion sale

ATLANTA — The Atlanta woman who founded SPANX just signed a billion-dollar deal this week -- and celebrated with a huge surprise for her employees.

Sara Blakely is a big believer in women’s entrepreneurship. She turned a dream that started on a whiteboard in Virginia Highlands into SPANX, the popular brand of women’s shapewear.

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This week, Blakely announced a $1.2 billion with Blackstone Inc. that will allow her to stay in charge of the company.

On Thursday, she thanked her employees with an incredible gift.

In a video she posted on Instagram, an emotional Blakeley thanked her employees for 21 years of success and for their hard work in an industry dominated by male-owned companies.

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Then, there was the big reveal.

“To celebrate this moment, I have bought each one of you to first class ticket to anywhere in the world,” Blakely tells the stunned crowd.

But there was more: She also gave each employee $10,000 to spend on the trip, encouraging them to make a memory with their family to celebrate the sale.

The crowd of mostly female employees went wild. Some burst into tears.

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Blakely then shared video of where her employees say they will go on their big trip.

“I’m going on a honeymoon with my fiance to Bora Bora!” one employee said.

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