Famous Quote
“I'm not investing for the next 10 years. I'm investing for the next 300.”
Why #54
Son made the most profitable venture investment in history ($20M in Alibaba → $100B+), built the largest tech investment fund ever ($100B Vision Fund), and his bets on ARM and AI position him at the center of the next computing era.
The Story
Masayoshi Son founded SoftBank in 1981 and became the most aggressive technology investor in history. His $20 million investment in a little-known Chinese startup called Alibaba in 2000 turned into the most profitable venture investment ever — worth over $100 billion at its peak. That single bet would define his legacy, but Son's ambitions were always far larger: he wanted to be the person who funded the future.
The SoftBank Vision Fund, launched in 2017 with $100B (the largest technology investment fund ever, backed largely by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund), rewrote the rules of venture capital. Son invested billions in Uber, WeWork, DoorDash, ByteDance, ARM, and hundreds of other companies. When his bets worked, they were spectacular. When they failed — WeWork's implosion being the most famous example — they were equally spectacular.
Son's personal wealth has swung wildly: he was briefly the richest person in the world during the dot-com bubble, lost $70 billion in the crash, rebuilt his fortune, and has continued to oscillate between triumph and near-catastrophe. His acquisition of ARM Holdings ($32B in 2016, now worth far more) and his conviction that AI will be the most transformative technology in history keep him at the center of global tech.
Key Achievements
Founded SoftBank (1981) — now a $100B+ tech conglomerate
Invested $20M in Alibaba → became worth $100B+ (5,000x return)
Launched $100B SoftBank Vision Fund — largest tech fund in history
Acquired ARM Holdings for $32B (2016)
Early investor in Uber, ByteDance, DoorDash, and 100+ companies
Briefly the richest person in the world (2000)
By the Numbers
5,000x+
Alibaba Return
$100B
Vision Fund Size
$32B
ARM Acquisition
400+
Portfolio Companies
Fun Facts
He was briefly the richest person in the world during the dot-com boom, then lost $70 billion in the crash.
He presented a 300-year business plan to potential employees when SoftBank had just a few staff.
He studied at UC Berkeley and invented an electronic translator that he sold to Sharp for $1M while still a student.
He is of Korean descent — his family immigrated to Japan and changed their surname to avoid discrimination.
He once met Jack Ma for 5 minutes and invested $20M — the fastest and most profitable investment decision ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the greatest entrepreneurs of all time?
The greatest entrepreneurs include Steve Jobs (Apple), Elon Musk (Tesla/SpaceX), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta). Each built companies that fundamentally changed how the world works — from personal computing and smartphones to e-commerce, cloud computing, and social media.
What makes someone a successful entrepreneur?
Successful entrepreneurs share several traits: the ability to identify unmet needs, willingness to take calculated risks, relentless execution, and resilience in the face of failure. They combine vision with practical problem-solving and are willing to persist long after most people would quit. Capital and credentials matter far less than most people think — resourcefulness beats resources.
Can you become an entrepreneur without a business degree?
Absolutely. Many of the greatest entrepreneurs had no business education. Steve Jobs dropped out of college. Richard Branson left school at 16. Sara Blakely was selling fax machines. Henry Ford had no formal engineering training. Jack Ma was an English teacher. What matters is not the degree — it is the ability to see an opportunity, build something people want, and persist through failure.
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