Tech and finance giants unite in the largest data center acquisition to date, underscoring the global race to expand AI infrastructure.
A powerful consortium including Nvidia, Microsoft, Elon Musk’s xAI, BlackRock, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX has agreed to acquire Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion, in what will be the largest data center deal ever, the companies confirmed Wednesday.
The buyers — operating under the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) — will purchase Aligned from Macquarie Asset Management. Founded in 2024 by BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia, AIP aims to deploy over $30 billion in AI infrastructure investments.
Aligned operates 50 data campuses across the Americas with more than 5 gigawatts of capacity to support next-generation AI workloads. The deal, expected to close late next year pending regulatory approval, marks AIP’s first major investment and a key step in the global buildout of AI-ready data facilities.
