Masayoshi Son’s journey is nothing short of a rollercoaster. From his humble beginnings as a Zainichi Korean in Japan to becoming one of the world’s most influential tech investors, a masayoshi son biography reveals a life filled with audacious bets, staggering wins, and equally dramatic losses. But who is this man who dared to dream so big?
At a glance:
- Founder of SoftBank, a global technology conglomerate.
- Early investor in Yahoo! and Alibaba, turning small stakes into billions.
- Launched the $100 billion Vision Fund, disrupting the venture capital landscape.
- Experienced both immense wealth and significant financial setbacks.
- Known for his long-term vision and willingness to take calculated risks.
From Tosu to Berkeley: The Making of an Entrepreneur
Born Masayoshi Yasumoto on August 11, 1957, in Tosu, Saga Prefecture, Japan, Son’s early life wasn’t paved with privilege. As a Zainichi Korean, he faced discrimination. This early adversity, however, seemed to fuel his ambition. A pivotal moment came when he encountered Den Fujita, the founder of McDonald’s Japan. Fujita’s advice to study English and computer science sparked a fire in the young Son. This led him to move to the United States at the age of 16.
He attended Holy Names College and Serramonte High School before enrolling at the University of California, Berkeley. While studying economics at Berkeley, Son’s entrepreneurial spirit was already in full swing. He wasn’t just hitting the books; he was building businesses. He famously sold an electronic translator to Sharp for $1.7 million and imported used video game machines, racking up $1.5 million in profit. These early ventures were more than just side hustles; they were a glimpse into the future.
Launching SoftBank: Distributing Dreams
After graduating from Berkeley in 1980, Son returned to Japan with a vision: to create a company that would shape the future. In 1981, he founded Nihon SoftBank, initially a software distributor and publisher. The early days were tough, but Son’s relentless energy and keen eye for opportunity propelled the company forward. SoftBank quickly became a major player in the Japanese tech scene, distributing software for leading brands and publishing computer magazines.
The name itself, “SoftBank,” was carefully chosen to convey a sense of innovation and forward-thinking. Son envisioned a company that would be a “bank” of software, providing the tools and resources that would power the digital revolution. This wasn’t just about selling software; it was about building an ecosystem and fostering innovation.
The Rise of an Internet Titan: Yahoo! and Alibaba
SoftBank’s trajectory shifted dramatically in the mid-1990s with Son’s strategic focus on the burgeoning internet. He saw the potential of this new technology to transform business and society, and he wanted SoftBank to be at the forefront. One of his earliest and most impactful moves was investing in Yahoo! in 1995. This bet proved incredibly prescient, as Yahoo! quickly became one of the internet’s most popular portals.
However, Son’s most famous investment, and arguably his most successful, was in Alibaba. In 2000, he invested $20 million in the then-fledgling Chinese e-commerce company founded by Jack Ma. Many doubted Alibaba’s potential, but Son saw something special in Ma’s vision and determination. That $20 million investment eventually ballooned into a stake worth billions. By 2014, after Alibaba’s IPO, the company was valued at approximately $75 billion. SoftBank’s 27% stake reached a staggering $132 billion by 2018. As of 2023, though, Softbank had sold most of its Alibaba stake, perhaps because Here are a few options, depending.
These investments cemented Son’s reputation as a visionary investor with an uncanny ability to spot future winners. He wasn’t just looking for short-term gains; he was building long-term partnerships and shaping the future of the internet.
The Vodafone Japan Acquisition: A Bold Move into Telecom
In 2006, SoftBank made a bold move into the telecommunications industry with the acquisition of Vodafone Japan for $15 billion. This was a significant departure from SoftBank’s traditional focus on software and internet services. Some analysts questioned the move, but Son saw an opportunity to disrupt the Japanese telecom market, which was dominated by established players.
The Vodafone Japan acquisition gave SoftBank a nationwide mobile network and a large customer base. Son quickly set about transforming the company, introducing innovative pricing plans and marketing campaigns. He also focused on improving the network’s performance and expanding its coverage. This move proved successful, and SoftBank’s mobile business quickly gained market share, becoming a major competitor to NTT Docomo and KDDI.
The Vision Fund: A $100 Billion Bet on the Future
In 2017, Son launched the $100 billion Vision Fund, the largest technology investment fund in history. This fund was designed to invest in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things. The sheer size of the Vision Fund shook up the venture capital landscape, giving SoftBank unprecedented power to shape the future of technology. It invested in 88 companies including Coupang, Didi, Doordash, Fanatics, Grab, Oyo, Paytm Uber, and WeWork.
The Vision Fund’s investment strategy was characterized by large, concentrated bets on companies with the potential to disrupt entire industries. Son believed that these companies would be the future leaders of the digital economy, and he was willing to invest heavily to help them achieve their goals. While the Vision Fund has had some notable successes, it has also faced criticism for its high-risk approach and its investments in companies with questionable business models. For instance, the Vision Fund posted a record 3.5 trillion yen loss ($27.4 billion) in 2022.
The scale of the Vision Fund allowed SoftBank to take a different approach to investing. Instead of taking small stakes in many companies, it focused on making large investments in a select few. This allowed SoftBank to exert more influence over the direction of these companies and to help them scale rapidly.
Sprint and T-Mobile: A Telecom Saga
SoftBank’s foray into the U.S. telecom market began in the 2010s with the acquisition of a 76% share in Sprint, later increasing it to 84%. The goal was to turn around the struggling mobile carrier and make it a viable competitor to Verizon and AT&T. However, the Sprint acquisition proved to be a challenging and ultimately disappointing venture. Sprint faced numerous challenges, including a weak network, a high debt load, and intense competition.
Despite investing billions of dollars in Sprint, SoftBank was unable to turn the company around. In 2020, SoftBank merged Sprint with T-Mobile US in a deal valued at $26 billion. While the merger created a stronger competitor to Verizon and AT&T, it also marked the end of SoftBank’s direct involvement in the U.S. mobile market.
Beyond Tech: Renewable Energy and AI Infrastructure
Son’s vision extends beyond the realm of traditional technology. He’s a strong advocate for renewable energy and has invested heavily in solar and other clean energy projects. SoftBank has announced plans to underwrite 100 GW of renewable provision in India by 2027.
More recently, in 2025, he was named chairman of The Stargate Project, an AI infrastructure joint venture. This reflects his continuing belief in the transformative power of technology to solve global challenges and improve people’s lives. These initiatives demonstrate Son’s commitment to long-term sustainability and his belief that technology can be used to create a better future for all.
Navigating the Dot-Com Crash and Personal Debt
Son’s career hasn’t been without its setbacks. He famously lost over $59 billion during the dot-com crash of 2000, a period that tested his resilience and resolve. It was a harsh lesson in the volatility of the technology market and the importance of managing risk. Despite this massive loss, Son remained optimistic and continued to invest in promising companies.
More recently, by February 2023, reports surfaced that Son personally owed SoftBank $5.1 billion. This debt underscores the high-stakes nature of his investments and the financial pressures he faces as the head of a large and complex organization. It serves as a reminder that even the most successful entrepreneurs are not immune to financial challenges.
Personal Life and Legacy
Masayoshi Son is married to Masami Ohno, and they have two daughters. He’s also the owner of the SoftBank Hawks baseball team, a popular franchise in Japan’s professional league. He consistently ranks among the world’s wealthiest individuals, currently holding the 65th spot on Forbes’ list of The World’s Billionaires as of May 2024 and No. 177 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Beyond the numbers, Son’s legacy is one of bold vision, relentless ambition, and a willingness to take risks. He’s inspired countless entrepreneurs and investors around the world with his audacious bets and his unwavering belief in the power of technology to change the world. His story demonstrates the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and a long-term perspective in achieving success.
Lessons from Masayoshi Son: Key Takeaways
- Think Big: Son’s success stems from his ability to envision a future shaped by technology and to pursue that vision with unwavering conviction.
- Embrace Risk: He’s not afraid to take calculated risks, even when others doubt his judgment.
- Learn from Failure: He has weathered significant setbacks, but he has always learned from his mistakes and emerged stronger.
- Focus on the Long Term: He’s not just looking for short-term gains; he’s building long-term partnerships and shaping the future of industries.
- Adapt and Evolve: Masayoshi Son has adapted and evolved his investment strategies over the years.
Son’s story is a compelling masayoshi son biography precisely because it highlights the importance of vision, the value of calculated risk-taking, and the power of resilience in the face of adversity. In short, it’s a case study in bold, visionary leadership.
