Early Life
Masayoshi Son was born Masayoshi Yasumoto on August 11, 1957, in Tosu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. His family is of Zainichi Korean descent. Son attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied economics, graduating in 1980.
Rise to Success
Son founded SoftBank in 1981, initially as a software distributor and publisher. He is the founder, Representative Director, Corporate Officer, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. His early investment in Alibaba Group in 2000 proved extremely lucrative, contributing significantly to SoftBank's financial success. Son's bold investments in technology and telecommunications propelled his rise, and he was briefly the richest person in the world.
Key Business Strategies
Son is known for his ambitious investment strategies and the establishment of the SoftBank Vision Fund. This fund invested in various emerging technologies like AI and robotics. In 2016, SoftBank acquired ARM Holdings, a UK-based semiconductor and chip design company. SoftBank has also been investing billions of dollars in AI, including in the $500 billion Stargate Project.
Philanthropy
Masayoshi Son has been involved in philanthropy, including providing support for the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. He pledged 10 billion yen and his remaining salary for the cause.