Masayoshi Son is no stranger to bold decisions. The SoftBank founder, known for his sweeping bets on technology, has once again surprised the markets.
This week, he sold SoftBank’s entire $5.8 billion stake in Nvidia, redirecting those funds toward AI ventures.
The announcement shook investors, and Nvidia shares fell nearly 3% after the news became public.
Still, analysts insist the sale is not a reflection of doubt in Nvidia but a sign of Son’s next strategic pivot.
History
Son’s career has long been defined by risk. During the late 1990s dot-com boom, his wealth soared to almost $78 billion, briefly making him the richest person in the world.
Months later, the bubble burst. SoftBank’s value collapsed from $180 billion to just $2.5 billion. Son personally lost more than $70 billion, a record at the time.
Most would have withdrawn; however, Son did the opposite. In 2000, he invested $20 million in Alibaba after a brief meeting with Jack Ma.
That single decision changed everything. Over two decades, the stake grew to be worth around $150 billion, restoring SoftBank’s reputation and Son’s fortune.
Vision Fund
Years later, Son launched the Vision Fund, one of the largest technology investment vehicles in history.
Backed by $45 billion from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, it aimed to reshape global innovation.
When journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in 2018, other investors distanced themselves from Saudi money.
Son condemned the killing but chose to maintain ties, arguing that SoftBank could not “turn its back on the Saudi people.”
The fund continued to invest aggressively, yet many of those investments struggled. Some, like Uber, took years to recover. Others, like WeWork, never did.
WeWork
Son’s biggest misstep came with WeWork. Enchanted by founder Adam Neumann’s vision, he poured billions into the startup and assigned it a $47 billion valuation.
But when WeWork filed to go public, its financial disclosures raised alarm. The IPO collapsed, and Neumann was forced out.
SoftBank eventually lost more than $13 billion on WeWork. Son later called it “a stain on my life.”
The episode left investors questioning his judgment, but it did not stop him from making new bets.
Nvidia
SoftBank’s connection to Nvidia runs deep. In 2019, the company sold a $4 billion stake in the chipmaker for $3.6 billion.
Those shares would now be worth more than $150 billion today. That sale became one of Son’s most painful missed opportunities.
In recent years, SoftBank quietly rebuilt its Nvidia position. By late 2025, it owned 32.1 million shares, valued at $5.8 billion.
Selling those shares at around $181.58 each, just below Nvidia’s record high, was a strong financial move.
Still, the decision raised questions. Why exit a company that dominates the AI hardware market?
Redirecting
The answer lies in Son’s new interest. He is now focusing SoftBank’s resources entirely on AI.
Reports suggest that SoftBank plans to commit $30 billion to OpenAI and may invest in a $1 trillion AI manufacturing hub proposed in Arizona.
Son believes AI represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. He has said that AI will transform every industry, from transportation to medicine.
Selling Nvidia, in his view, is not stepping away from AI but moving closer to its center.
Also read: SoftBank has a $1 trillion AI Plan
Patterns
Son’s actions are familiar. He bets heavily when he senses a major technological change.
Sometimes he wins big, as with Alibaba, sometimes he loses, as with WeWork. But he always moves forward.
Investors now face a dilemma: is Son ahead of the curve again, or repeating old mistakes?
Reactions And Analysis
The market’s reaction was immediate but measured. Nvidia’s share price dipped after the sale, though experts were quick to clarify that SoftBank’s move was not a warning sign.
Instead, they view it as a capital reallocation, a way to prepare for the next wave of AI growth.
Preparing For The Next Chapter
SoftBank’s renewed focus suggests a big ambition. Son may be positioning the company not just as an investor but as a builder of AI infrastructure.
He may plan on owning stakes in data centers, chip factories, and energy systems that power next-generation computing.
If successful, this could mark the start of a new era for SoftBank, one defined not by speculative investments long-term influence over the global AI supply chain.
