A private equity heavy-hitter has apologised after smashing his luxury BMW into five cars and refusing to take breath tests.

TPG Capital's Australian boss Joel Thickins, whose firm manages more than $23 billion in assets, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to negligent driving and refusing to submit to breath analysis.

The 48-year-old admitted he crashed his BMW into another car in Queens Park, in Sydney's east, before it hurtled into another four vehicles earlier in June.

"It is an absolute shocker," Judge Michael Barko told Sydney's John Maddison Tower Local Court on Tuesday.

"Without maiming someone or killing someone, it can't get much worse."

Thickins had been drinking before he got behind the wheel, swerved out of his lane and crashed into a car coming in the other direction before careering into four parked vehicles.

"As I have assured the court, this will never happen again," Thickins said in a statement after his sentence was delivered.

"I accept full responsibility for the accident. I apologise again for the inconvenience and distress caused and I will meet all costs for the damage.

"I'm very grateful no one was injured or hurt."

TPG would not be drawn on his future following his sentencing - which includes a nine-month driving ban - and said it would announce its next steps in coming days.

His lawyer Justin Wong said the corporate bigwig - whose company manages more than $US220 billion ($A320 billion) worldwide - exited his vehicle to check on the health of those involved in the crash and what damage he caused.

He told the court his client made no attempt to flee the scene and had been fully co-operative with police - apart from declining to undertake a breath test.

"He certainly knows he should not have got in the car that evening," Mr Wong said.

But Judge Barko rejected the characterisation he had been helpful with the authorities.

"He didn't try to bolt (but) he was indignant, obstinate, argumentative," the judge said.

As well as his driving disqualification, Thickins was fined $1430.

He is the co-head of TPG Capital Asia and head of Australia and New Zealand.

A TPG spokesperson said the organisation was disappointed in Thickins and would not immediately guarantee his future.

"Joel is taking full responsibility for his actions and the impact they have caused and he appreciates the seriousness of the matter," they said.

"TPG has undertaken a comprehensive third-party investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision ... we will be communicating directly with our stakeholders in the coming days as to the broader path forward."