Masayoshi Son Positions SoftBank for Massive AI Infrastructure Dominance with Potential $1.8B+ DigitalBridge Acquisition

As the artificial intelligence revolution accelerates at unprecedented speed, Masayoshi Son, the iconic founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, continues to make headline-grabbing, high-conviction moves to secure dominance in the fast-growing AI infrastructure and data center sector.

Fresh reports from late December 2025 indicate that SoftBank is in advanced negotiations to acquire DigitalBridge Group (DBRG), a premier New York-listed digital infrastructure investment manager. The potential transaction could value DigitalBridge at over $2.5 billion (with market capitalization recently approaching $2.7 billion after the rumor-driven rally) and may result in the company being taken private.

This strategic move would instantly provide SoftBank with massive scale across hyperscale data centers, edge computing facilities, fiber networks, cell towers, and other mission-critical digital infrastructure — the exact backbone required to power the next decade of generative AI, large language models, cloud computing, and autonomous technologies.

DigitalBridge: Leading $108 Billion Digital Infrastructure Platform

DigitalBridge Group, under the leadership of CEO Marc Ganzi, ranks among the largest and most specialized digital infrastructure investment managers globally. As of Q3 2025, the firm manages approximately $108 billion in assets under management (AUM) across a diversified yet highly strategic portfolio that includes:

Vantage Data Centers – rapidly expanding hyperscale campuses purpose-built for AI workloads
DataBank – enterprise and colocation leader
Switch – high-density, innovative data center operator
AtlasEdge – pan-European edge infrastructure platform
Yondr Group – emerging markets-focused data center developer
AIMS – additional connectivity and tower assets

These platforms position DigitalBridge at the very center of the AI data center boom, where leasing demand has reached record levels — with more than 2.6 gigawatts of new leases signed in Q3 2025 alone, driven largely by hyperscalers and AI-first companies.

Before acquisition speculation surfaced, DBRG shares had fallen roughly 13% year-to-date amid broader market volatility. However, the news triggered one of the most explosive single-day rallies in the company’s history, with shares soaring as much as 45% at peak and stabilizing with a significantly higher market cap.

Analysts such as Raymond James’ Ric Prentiss have publicly stated that DigitalBridge would be an ideal fit under a global powerhouse like SoftBank, which possesses superior capital-raising capabilities, long-term investment horizon, and strategic vision. Experts widely expect any finalized transaction to include a healthy premium — potentially pushing the per-share price into the $18–$22+ range.

SoftBank brings relevant M&A experience in this space, most notably its 2017 purchase of Fortress Investment Group for $3.3 billion (exited profitably in 2024 to Mubadala and management).

Masayoshi Son’s All-In AI Infrastructure Vision: The $500 Billion Stargate Project

The rumored DigitalBridge acquisition perfectly complements Son’s broader, audacious bet on AI infrastructure. SoftBank is a cornerstone partner in the landmark Stargate Project — a joint venture alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX that plans to invest up to $500 billion over the next several years to construct the world’s largest network of AI-optimized data centers across the United States.

Key Stargate milestones announced through late 2025 include:

Initial $100 billion deployment phase already underway
Flagship operational site in Abilene, Texas (running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure)
Five additional major U.S. campuses confirmed in Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Wisconsin, and others
Projected combined capacity approaching 7–10 gigawatts — equivalent to the electricity needs of several major metropolitan areas
Total capital commitment expected to exceed $400 billion within the next three years

To fund this massive expansion, SoftBank made the emotionally charged decision to sell its entire Nvidia position for approximately $5.8 billion in late 2025. Masayoshi Son famously remarked that he was “crying” during the sale — a testament to his admiration for Nvidia — while simultaneously redirecting proceeds into OpenAI (with up to $30 billion total planned commitment) and the wider AI infrastructure buildout.

Risks, Rewards & Outlook

While the potential DigitalBridge deal and Stargate expansion highlight SoftBank’s aggressive leadership in the AI data center and digital infrastructure race, execution risks remain: deal talks are ongoing with no certainty of completion, energy constraints are intensifying, regulatory scrutiny is rising, and competition among hyperscalers is fierce.

GuruFocus continues to flag multiple warning signs for SoftBank (SOBKY / 9984.T), so investors should perform comprehensive due diligence.

That said, few executives in modern business history have demonstrated Masayoshi Son’s ability to identify and capture transformative technology waves — from early Alibaba to Vision Fund winners to today’s AI infrastructure megatrend.

The coming years will reveal whether this high-stakes, multi-hundred-billion-dollar bet reshapes the global digital economy. For the latest updates on Masayoshi Son, SoftBank AI strategy, DigitalBridge acquisition rumors, Stargate project developments, and the AI data center boom, continue following our coverage.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.