Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Friedman Robert L.
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Blackstone Group L.P. [BX]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chief Legal Officer
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

C/O THE BLACKSTONE GROUP, 345 PARK AVENUE
3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2009
(Street)


NEW YORK, NY 10154
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Blackstone Holdings Partnership units (1)               (1)   (1) Common units representing limited partnership units
532,431
  532,431
I
See footnote (3)
Blackstone Holdings Partnership units (1)   11/12/2010   G(2)   12,694   (1)   (1) Common units representing limited partnership units
12,694
$ 0 4,922,681
I
See footnote (3)
Blackstone Holdings Partnership units               (1)   (1) Common units representing limited partnership units
2,130,462
  2,130,462
I
See footnotes (3) (4)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Friedman Robert L.
C/O THE BLACKSTONE GROUP
345 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10154
      Chief Legal Officer  

Signatures

/s/ Robert L. Friedman 02/11/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) A "Blackstone Holdings partnership unit" collectively refers to one limited partner interest in each of Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings III L.P. and Blackstone Holdings IV L.P. Subject to the minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions set forth in the partnership agreements of the Blackstone Holdings partnerships, the Reporting Person has the right, exercisable from time to time, to exchange each Blackstone Holdings partnership unit for one common unit of The Blackstone Group L.P. The Blackstone Holdings partnership units have no expiration date and may not be exchanged at any time prior to December 31, 2010 other than pursuant to transactions or programs approved by Blackstone.
(2) The Reporting Person donated 12,694 Blackstone Holdings partnership units to a charitable foundation.
(3) These Blackstone Holdings partnership units are held in a trust and/or limited liability company, for the benefit of the Reporting Person's children, of which the Reporting Person is a trustee or managing member, as applicable, with investment power. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the Blackstone Holdings partnership units held in these entities
(4) Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Reporting Person herein states that this filing shall not be deemed an admission that he or it is the beneficial owner of any of these interests, and disclaims beneficial ownership of such interests, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such interests.

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