Masayoshi Son bets big on AI with $40 billion OpenAI investment

In Japan, Masayoshi Son, the founder of SoftBank Group, has set his sights on artificial intelligence, driving a bold strategy to establish his investment conglomerate as a major force in the AI landscape. In April 2025, SoftBank revealed plans to inject $40 billion into OpenAI, a significant portion of which will be syndicated to co-investors, valuing the creator of ChatGPT at an immense $300 billion. This commitment represents the largest startup financing deal globally, following SoftBank's prior investments totaling $2.2 billion since September 2024. In tandem with this initiative, Son's net worth saw a 4% increase, bringing it to $28.2 billion. This marks a notable period of financial recovery for SoftBank, which recorded its first annual profit in four years, driven largely by the resurgence of its stakes in U.S. companies like T-Mobile. Furthermore, SoftBank is embarking on another substantial venture: the $500 billion Stargate Project, which aims to construct vast AI data centers across the United States. This joint venture, announced by former U.S. President Donald Trump, combines efforts from SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and the Abu Dhabi-based MGX, indicating a strong belief in the future of AI infrastructure. As part of its AI-oriented strategy, SoftBank is also acquiring Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion to bolster its hardware capabilities for data centers, indicating a comprehensive approach to enhancing its technology ecosystem for maximum impact in the AI field.