Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank Secures DigitalBridge for $4B in AI Infrastructure Bet

Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank Group is securing DigitalBridge Group for $4 billion in a major bet on artificial intelligence infrastructure, the companies jointly announced. The acquisition reflects Son’s strategic vision of positioning SoftBank to capture maximum value from the infrastructure layer supporting AI development and deployment.
Through this deal, SoftBank obtains significantly increased exposure to digital infrastructure, which encompasses the physical and network assets essential for AI systems to function. Son has been systematically redirecting SoftBank’s portfolio toward artificial intelligence, viewing it as a once-in-a-generation technological breakthrough. The massive growth in demand for computing resources to support AI applications has created lucrative opportunities in infrastructure investment, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio directly addresses.
DigitalBridge specializes in digital infrastructure investments covering datacenters, cell tower networks, fiber systems, small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing facilities. The company’s holdings include prominent businesses like Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Originally established as Colony Capital in 1991 with a focus on traditional real estate, the firm underwent a complete transformation under CEO Marc Ganzi’s leadership, systematically exiting legacy property investments and adopting the DigitalBridge name in 2021.
Under the acquisition terms, Ganzi will continue as CEO with DigitalBridge operating as an independently managed platform. The financial scale is considerable: DigitalBridge oversaw roughly $108 billion in assets at the end of September, positioning it among the largest institutional investors focused exclusively on digital infrastructure. This established platform provides SoftBank with immediate access to substantial assets and deep industry expertise.
SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy encompasses multiple major commitments beyond DigitalBridge. The company is a principal partner in the Stargate project alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investment firm headquartered in Abu Dhabi. This collaborative initiative involves multi-billion-dollar investments in large-scale computing infrastructure designed specifically for advanced AI development. The roadmap includes five new computing sites in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio with approximately 7 gigawatts of combined power capacity.