The three founders of private-equity firm Carlyle Group reaped an $800 million bounty in 2014 that reflects the big payouts the firm made to investors as it seized on buoyant markets and acquisition-hungry corporations to cash out of investments.

Much of that amount, disclosed in a Thursday securities filing, came from the record $2.09 a share dividend the Washington DC, firm paid out to shareholders for the year and from returns on their investments in Carlyle funds.