Masayoshi Son Becomes Japan's Richest on $55B AI-Driven Surge

Masayoshi Son has become Japan's richest man with a net worth of $55.1 billion, surpassing Tadashi Yanai due to SoftBank's strong stock rally driven by aggressive investments in artificial intelligence (AI). Son has committed $100 billion to U.S. investments, including a $30 billion stake in OpenAI and a $500 billion plan to build AI data centers with Oracle and Abu Dhabi's MGX, positioning SoftBank as a major player in the global AI infrastructure boom. Additionally, SoftBank is pursuing partnerships with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. for a trillion-dollar robotics hub in Arizona and has made significant investments in Intel, Nvidia, Arm Holdings, and ABB's robotics arm. While some market analysts caution that AI valuations may outpace fundamentals, Son's strategic bets on AI and robotics reflect his vision to reshape global technology. SoftBank's growth under Son's leadership also reflects a broader resurgence following earlier setbacks, reinforcing his pivotal role in the evolving tech landscape. Son's investments have made SoftBank a proxy for the AI revolution and a key foreign business backer during President Donald Trump's visit to Tokyo.