Editorial illustration for SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Sells NVIDIA Shares, Tearfully Funds OpenAI Investment
Masayoshi Son's Tearful NVIDIA Sale Fuels OpenAI Ambitions
SoftBank's Son says he sold NVIDIA shares, cried, to fund OpenAI
I just had more need for money to invest in OpenAI and other projects," Son said. "I was crying to sell NVIDIA shares." SoftBank has spent the year ramping up its AI ambitions, pouring resources into initiatives including the massive Stargate Project data centres and the acquisition of US chip designer Ampere Computing. The company is also preparing to expand its backing of OpenAI, with a potential increase depending on the startup's performance and valuation in future funding rounds, a person familiar with the discussions previously told CNBC.
Son has repeatedly positioned OpenAI at the centre of SoftBank's next phase, declaring earlier this year that the group is "all in" on the ChatGPT maker and predicting it could eventually become the world's most valuable company. SoftBank reported that second-quarter net profit more than doubled to 2.5 trillion yen ($16.6 billion), supported by gains tied to its OpenAI stake.
Son's math is brutal. NVIDIA prints money. He sold it anyway.
That quarter's profit, a cool $16.6 billion, was already juiced by his remaining OpenAI position. It’s a tidy circular logic. He sells a winner to buy a future he believes will be bigger, and the purchase itself helps justify the sale.
The gamble is that NVIDIA is a gold rush shovel maker. OpenAI is the claim that contains the entire mountain. The tears are for the shovel.
His focus is on the dirt.
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Common Questions Answered
Why did Masayoshi Son sell his NVIDIA shares?
Son needed additional funds to invest in OpenAI and other AI projects, describing the sale as an emotionally challenging decision. He specifically mentioned having a greater financial need to support his strategic AI investments, which include the Stargate Project data centers and potential expanded backing of OpenAI.
What significant AI investments has SoftBank made in 2023?
SoftBank has been aggressively positioning itself in AI development through multiple strategic moves, including the massive Stargate Project data centers and the acquisition of US chip designer Ampere Computing. The company is also preparing to potentially increase its backing of OpenAI, depending on the startup's future performance and valuation.
How does Masayoshi Son describe his investment approach to AI technologies?
Son's investment strategy appears deeply personal and emotionally driven, going beyond traditional financial calculations. He described selling NVIDIA shares as a tearful but necessary decision to fund his ambitious AI technology pursuits, demonstrating a passionate commitment to advancing artificial intelligence.
Further Reading
- SoftBank dumps its entire Nvidia portfolio worth $5.8 billion as its CEO goes all‑in on OpenAI to the tune of $30 billion — Fortune
- SoftBank’s $100 Billion AI Bet: Inside Masayoshi Son’s Vision for a New Industrial Revolution — Bloomberg
- SoftBank’s Stargate Project: The $100 Billion AI Data Center Network Behind Son’s OpenAI Push — Financial Times
- Why Masayoshi Son Is Doubling Down on OpenAI After Exiting Nvidia — TechCrunch
- From Chips to Models: SoftBank’s Shift From Nvidia Stake to OpenAI‑Backed AI Infrastructure — Reuters
