Spanx founder Sara Blakely has surprised employees with two first-class plane tickets and $10,000 each. The gifts came as Blakely celebrated her company’s new $1.2 billion valuation. The valuation comes as a result of investment firm Blackstone buying a majority stake in Spanx. "I really want every employee to celebrate this moment in their own way and create a memory that will last them a lifetime," Sara Blakely. Blakely started Spanx in 2000 with $5,000 in savings and pledged that the company would be worth $20 million one day. Following the news, Blakely urged more support for female-led business.