Fortress Investment Group

Founded in 1998 by Wesley Edens, Rob Kauffman, Randal Nardone, Michael Novogratz, and Pete Briger, Fortress Investment Group began as a private equity firm in New York City. It quickly expanded into hedge funds, real estate, and debt securities. In 2007, it became the first large private equity firm in the United States to be traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange. The firm has been recognized multiple times by Institutional Investor for its performance in credit and macro-focused strategies.

In 2017, the firm was acquired by SoftBank Group for $3.3 billion and taken private. During its time under SoftBank, Fortress engaged in diverse activities ranging from providing lifelines to startups like Theranos to backing major infrastructure projects like the Brightline passenger rail. In 2024, the firm transitioned back to an independent brand following an acquisition by its management team and Mubadala Capital. As of 2025, the firm manages $53 billion for over 2,000 institutional and private investors globally.