Colony Capital

Founded in 1991 by Tom Barrack, Colony Capital originally operated as a private equity real estate firm with a diverse portfolio ranging from hospitality (Raffles, Fairmont Hotels) to entertainment (Miramax, Paris Saint-Germain) and distressed assets (Neverland Ranch, Station Casinos). In 2017, the firm underwent a significant transition through a tri-party merger to become Colony NorthStar.

Under the leadership of Marc Ganzi, the firm executed a strategic pivot away from traditional real estate toward digital infrastructure, rebranding as DigitalBridge in 2021. The firm now focuses exclusively on the physical layer of the digital economy, including telecommunications towers, hyperscale data centers, and fiber networks. Notable recent activity includes the $11 billion acquisition of Switch, Inc. and a major $9.2 billion equity investment in Vantage Data Centers.

In December 2025, DigitalBridge entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by SoftBank Group for approximately $4 billion. The acquisition is intended to integrate DigitalBridge’s infrastructure portfolio into SoftBank’s Artificial Super Intelligence strategy, with the firm expected to operate as a standalone subsidiary following the close of the transaction in 2026.