AI's Latest Rocket Ship Is an Old School, 28-Year-Old Data Company
Forbes, Thursday, August 6th, 2026
Data storage CEO Alex Bouzari becomes a billionaire as the AI boom transforms his niche business.
Alex Bouzari's DDN has evolved from a specialized supercomputer storage provider into a company fueling the AI buildout.
Revenue is projected to reach $1 billion in 2026, up from $500 million the previous year, driven by demand from AI companies like xAI and by governments building supercomputers.
Blackstone's $300 million investment in January 2025 valued DDN at $5 billion, giving Bouzari and cofounder Paul Bloch stakes worth roughly $2 billion each. DDN's software lets expensive AI hardware run efficiently with minimal downtime, addressing a critical bottleneck where servers often sit idle.