Olivier Sarkozy started his career at the Dillion, Read & Co., an American investment bank. After three years, he left the bank for a senior post at the Credit Suisse First Boston. In his entire career, he has been involved in a number of large financial transactions in America which include the $36 billion sale of MBNA to Bank of America and $7 billion sale of National Commerce to Suntrust.

By appointment, he took the post as the Managing Director and Co-Head of Carlyle's Group Global Financial Services Group in March 2008. Currently, he also serves as one of the Board of Directors at Bank United.

He married a freelance fashion writer Charlotte Bernard but they settle on a divorce on 2011. Currently, Olivier Sarkozy is allegedly dating the actress Mary -Kate Olsen.