Masayoshi Son: The Visionary Behind SoftBank

How a Zainichi Korean Entrepreneur Built a Tech Empire and Is Now Betting $500B on AI

Masayoshi Son, the 67-year-old founder of SoftBank Group, has long been a polarizing figure in global tech. From his early bets on Alibaba and Yahoo to the meteoric rise and fall of the Vision Fund, Son’s career is a study in audacity.

In January 2025, he unveiled his boldest move yet: Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure project backed by OpenAI, Oracle, and the U.S. government. This blog explores Son’s journey, his latest venture, and why Stargate could redefine America’s technological future.

Born in 1957 to a Korean-Japanese family in Saga Prefecture, Son grew up in poverty. His father, a former pig farmer turned pachinko parlor owner, instilled resilience. At 16, Son moved to California, accelerated through high school, and enrolled at UC Berkeley. There, he invented an electronic translator sold to Sharp for $1 million—seed money for SoftBank, founded in 1981.

Key Milestones:

• 1995: Invested in Yahoo, earning billions during the dot-com boom.

• 2000:20MstakeinAlibabagrewto20MstakeinAlibabagrewto140B+, cementing SoftBank’s global clout.

• 2016: Acquired Arm Holdings, positioning SoftBank as a semiconductor leader.

Son’s philosophy—“Do not be afraid to win”—has driven both triumphs (Alibaba) and disasters (WeWork). Yet, Stargate reflects his unyielding ambition to shape the future.

Announced on January 22, 2025, Stargate is a joint venture with OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX. Its goal: build AI infrastructure to outpace China and ensure U.S. dominance.

Why It Matters:

• Infrastructure Scale: $100B immediate investment; 1M-square-foot Texas data center already underway.

• Tech Stack: Arm’s chips, NVIDIA’s GPUs, and Oracle’s cloud systems power next-gen AI models.

• Healthcare Innovation: AI diagnostics for early cancer detection via blood tests.

Son, as Stargate’s chairman, declared it “the most important project of this era”. The venture aligns with OpenAI’s warnings about lagging behind China without urgent infrastructure upgrades.

The Vision Fund (2017–2023) was a rollercoaster. While it birthed giants like DoorDash and Coupang, losses from WeWork (16B+)andDidi(16B+)andDidi(4B+) tarnished Son’s reputation. Stargate marks a strategic shift:

• Lower Risk: Partnering with established firms (Microsoft, Oracle) reduces startup volatility.

• Government Alignment: Leveraging Trump’s deregulatory push (e.g., reversing Biden’s AI oversight order).

• Economic Nationalism: “Re-industrializing” America through tech jobs and supply chain control.

SoftBank’s shares surged 12% post-announcement, signaling investor confidence in this pivot.

A. Funding the 500BDream

SoftBankplanstomonetizeits500BDream∗∗SoftBankplanstomonetizeits140B Arm stake and tap global funds. However, analysts warn of debt risks: S&P flags a potential loan-to-value ratio breach.

B. Political Skepticism
Trump’s Foxconn deal—a $10B Wisconsin plant that created <1,500 jobs—looms large. Critics question whether Stargate will deliver promised jobs or become another PR stunt.

C. Ethical AI Concerns
OpenAI’s white paper stresses “benefiting humanity,” but Stargate’s military applications (per Oracle’s statement) raise ethical questions.

Son’s career defies simple labels. He lost 59Binthe2000dot−comcrash,onlytoreboundwithAlibaba.TheVisionFund’s59Binthe2000dot−comcrash,onlytoreboundwithAlibaba.TheVisionFund’s27.4B loss in 2022 didn’t deter him; Stargate is his redemption bid.

Why Stargate Could Work:

• AI’s Exponential Growth: Global AI spending will hit $1.3T by 2030; demand for data centers is insatiable.

• Bipartisan Support: Biden’s AI regulations are gone, and Trump’s “America First” agenda aligns with Son’s goals.

Masayoshi Son thrives on asymmetry: high risk, higher reward. Stargate, blending geopolitical strategy and cutting-edge tech, could cement his legacy—or become his costliest misstep. As AI reshapes economies and militaries, Son’s gamble underscores a truth he’s lived by: “Unless you give up, there are no limits.” For investors and policymakers, Stargate is a case study in how visionaries redefine possibility.