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Masayoshi Son

Masayoshi Son

M. Son
0.1% | + $54.52M
$54.66 B ₹ 4.97 Lk Cr
Real Time Net Worth #33 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Masayoshi Son

Gender

Male

Age

68Y

Country

Japan

Born On

August, 1957

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

2

Education

University Of California, Berkeley - BA In Economics

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Technology And Investments)

Primary Organization

SoftBank Group

Titles

Founder, Chairman & CEO

Sources of Wealth

SoftBank

Industry

Investments, Technology, Telecom, Venture Capital, AI

About Masayoshi Son


M asayoshi Son is a visionary and audacious Japanese technology entrepreneur and investor, and the founder and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. A third-generation Zainichi Korean, he faced discrimination in his youth before moving to the U.S. for college. He made his first fortune by creating a pocket translator that he sold to Sharp Corporation. He returned to Japan and founded SoftBank in 1981, initially as a software distributor. He built the company into a major telecommunications and internet conglomerate through a series of bold investments, including an early and incredibly lucrative stake in Yahoo! and a pivotal investment in the Chinese e-commerce startup, Alibaba.

In recent years, Son has transformed SoftBank into the world's largest and most influential technology investor through its massive, $100 billion Vision Fund. He has made huge, often company-making bets on hundreds of technology startups around the world, in sectors ranging from ride-sharing (Uber, Didi) and e-commerce (Coupang) to artificial intelligence and biotechnology. His investment style is known for its high risk and high reward, leading to both spectacular successes and major write-downs (such as WeWork). He is considered one of the most powerful and consequential figures in the global technology industry.

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Quick Reads


  • Founder and CEO of Japanese technology and investment giant SoftBank Group.
  • An early investor in Yahoo! and Alibaba, which generated massive returns.
  • Created the $100 billion Vision Fund, the world's largest tech-focused investment fund.
  • Known for his high-risk, high-reward investment strategy in global tech startups.
  • He is a third-generation Zainichi Korean.

Early Life and Background


Masayoshi Son is a Japanese businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder, Chairman, and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO: 9984), a global technology investment and telecommunications conglomerate. Born in Tosu, Saga, Japan, in 1957, his family is of Korean descent (Zainichi Korean). His career is defined by audacious risk-taking and long-term technological vision.

Son graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Economics. His entrepreneurial journey began with early success in electronic dictionary technology. His philosophical approach centers on disruption, AI/technology investment, and global market domination (aiming to be the most valuable company in the world).

  • SoftBank Group Corp. (Founder, Chairman & CEO): The core publicly traded asset, a global technology investment giant (controlling SoftBank Vision Fund, the world's largest tech VC fund).
  • Investment Apex: He orchestrated the early $20 million investment in Alibaba, which became worth over $100 billion (one of the most profitable investments in history).
  • Vision Fund: He founded the $100 billion Vision Fund to drive AI and technological transformation globally.
  • Controversy: His career is marked by high-stakes gambles (e.g., WeWork) and massive debt restructuring.

Career Journey of Masayoshi Son


Masayoshi Son's strategic genius was his unwavering belief in the digital future. He founded SoftBank in 1981 (initially as a computer magazine publisher). His structural contribution is tied to pioneering the mobile internet in Japan (acquiring Vodafone Japan to form SoftBank Mobile) and globalizing venture capital through the massive Vision Fund (2017).

His career faced a near-fatal crisis during the Dot-Com crash (SoftBank lost 99 percent of its market value), which he successfully navigated. His most successful move was the $20 million investment in Alibaba in 2000. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term appreciation of his Tencent and Prosus stakes, cementing his status as one of the world's most successful technology investors.

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Masayoshi Son's Timeline


1981:

Founds SoftBank (Founding).

2000:

Invests $20 million in Alibaba (Pivotal Investment).

2006:

Acquires Vodafone Japan, forming SoftBank Mobile (Telecom Milestone).

2017:

Founds the $100 billion Vision Fund (VC Apex).

2021:

SoftBank records massive losses on WeWork and other investments (Corporate Crisis).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder, Chairman, and CEO, guiding the global investment giant (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Masayoshi Son's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and continued executive leadership of the publicly traded technology giant, SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO: 9984), and its vast portfolio.

  • SoftBank Group Corp. (Founder, Chairman & CEO): The core publicly traded asset, a global technology investment giant (controlling SoftBank Vision Fund, the world's largest tech VC fund).
  • Investment Apex: He orchestrated the early $20 million investment in Alibaba, which became worth over $100 billion (one of the most profitable investments in history).
  • Vision Fund: He founded the $100 billion Vision Fund to drive AI and technological transformation globally.
  • Controversy: His career is marked by high-stakes gambles (e.g., WeWork) and massive debt restructuring.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Masayoshi Son's social impact is structural, stemming from SoftBank's role in funding the foundational companies of the global AI and technology revolution (e.g., Tencent, Uber, ByteDance). His commitment to the Vision Fund drives unprecedented capital allocation to technological advancement. His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives (including the Masason Foundation for gifted youth).

His structural contribution is tied to his belief in technological singularity and his influential role in global technology policy.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Masayoshi Son maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and visionary ambition, typical of a leader in the global tech sector.

Residing in Tokyo, Japan, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to technology investment, strategic M&A, and global market domination.

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Quotes and Philosophy


“The biggest risk is not taking any risk.”

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder and CEO of SoftBank Group and the Vision Fund.
  • His $20 million investment in Alibaba became worth over $100 billion.
  • SoftBank lost 99 percent of its market value during the Dot-Com crash.
  • He holds a B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley.
  • His company is the largest technology investor in the world (via the Vision Fund).
  • He is a Zainichi Korean (Korean resident of Japan) who faced early discrimination.
  • His wealth is tied to the successful monetization of the global AI and technology boom.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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