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What is Masayoshi Son’s Net Worth?
Masayoshi Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., has an estimated net worth of $33.4 billion. This substantial fortune primarily stems from his significant stake in SoftBank, a multinational conglomerate with investments in various technology companies, including Alibaba and Arm Holdings.
Son’s wealth is closely tied to the performance of SoftBank’s stock, which has experienced both remarkable highs and notable lows. For instance, his net worth saw a dramatic increase due to the surge in Arm Holdings’ stock price, adding approximately $3.8 billion to his wealth in early 2024.
Son’s strategic investments have often paid off handsomely. His early $20 million investment in Alibaba grew to a valuation of billions. In addition, SoftBank’s Vision Fund, although criticized for some high-profile failures like WeWork, has also contributed to his wealth through successful investments in emerging technologies.
Son’s financial portfolio is diverse, including real estate holdings such as a mansion in Tokyo and a substantial estate in California. His net worth is also bolstered by dividends from SoftBank and various side investments, although he owes significant amounts to SoftBank due to these side deals.
Here’s the breakdown of Masayoshi Son’s net worth:
Name: | Masayoshi Son |
Net Worth: | $33.4 Billion |
Date of Birth: | Aug 11, 1957 |
Profession: | Entrepreneur, Businessperson |
If you’re curious about how we estimate a celebrity’s net worth, you can check out our methodology here.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in 1957 to Korean immigrant parents in Tosu, Japan, Masayoshi Son faced discrimination as a Zainichi Korean. However, this adversity seemed to fuel his ambition and entrepreneurial spirit from an early age.
Son’s first foray into business came while he was still a student at the University of California, Berkeley. At just 19 years old, he created an electronic translator that he sold to Sharp Corporation for $1.7 million. This early success provided Son with his initial capital and demonstrated his knack for identifying profitable opportunities in the tech industry.
Not content with this single venture, Son continued his entrepreneurial pursuits while in college. He imported used video game machines from Japan on credit, installing them in dormitories and restaurants. This business netted him an additional $1.5 million. These early successes, totaling over $3 million while still a student, laid the foundation for Son’s future wealth and business acumen.
After graduating from Berkeley with a B.A. in Economics in 1980, Son founded Unison World, a video game company based in Oakland, California. He later sold this company to an associate for approximately $2 million.
These early business successes provided Son with the financial means and confidence to found SoftBank in 1981, the company that would eventually become the cornerstone of his vast wealth.
SoftBank
Masayoshi Son’s net worth is closely tied to his stake in SoftBank Group Corp., which he founded in 1981. As of December 2022, Son held a 34.2% stake in the company. This significant ownership has been a major contributor to his wealth over the years.
SoftBank’s performance has a direct impact on Son’s net worth. For instance, when SoftBank posted a profit of 231bn yen (£1.18bn) in the first quarter of 2024, it positively affected Son’s wealth. However, the company has also faced challenges, such as posting a third consecutive annual loss of 227bn yen for the 12 months ending March 2024.
Son’s role as the founder, representative director, corporate officer, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. allows him to have a significant influence on the company’s strategic decisions, which in turn affect his net worth.
Arm Holdings
Arm Holdings, a UK-based chip designer, has become a crucial component of Son’s wealth strategy. SoftBank acquired Arm for £23.4 billion in 2016. This investment has proven to be highly lucrative, with Arm’s stock price surging since its September 2023 IPO.
As of 2024, SoftBank’s 90% ownership stake in Arm has more than doubled in value since the listing, reaching over $110 billion. This substantial increase in Arm’s value has significantly boosted Son’s net worth, adding approximately $3.8 billion to his wealth in early 2024.
Vision Fund
The SoftBank Vision Fund, launched in 2017, has been a significant factor in Son’s net worth fluctuations. The fund, which has invested over $140 billion in nearly 400 startups, has experienced both successes and setbacks.
In the fiscal year ended March 2024, the Vision Fund posted a gain of 7.24 billion Japanese yen ($4.6 billion), marking its first profit in three years. However, the fund has also faced challenges, such as the $32 billion loss in 2020.
Son’s personal involvement in the Vision Fund has also affected his net worth. He holds a 17.25% stake in a vehicle set up under SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 for its unlisted holdings, as well as a 17.25% stake in a unit within the company’s Latin America fund.
These investments have sometimes resulted in significant liabilities for Son, with reports in 2022 indicating he owed SoftBank about $4.7 billion on side deals related to these funds.
Real Estate and Other Investments
Son owns substantial real estate holdings, including a three-story mansion in Tokyo valued at around $50 million and a 9-acre estate in Woodside, California, purchased for $117 million in 2013.
Apart from that, Son has made several personal investments outside of SoftBank. For instance, he owns roughly a third of the shares in SB Northstar, a vehicle set up at SoftBank to trade stocks and derivatives.
Ashley Roberts is the founder of Real-Time Billionaires List. She founded this platform because she likes to know how much celebrities are actually making. She is always curious why these people can make much more money than the ordinary person.
With a Bachelor’s degree in finance, she is skilled at financial analysis and understands numbers related to wealth. Most of the articles on this site are edited by herself before publishing.