SoftBank Jumps 30% in 2 Days as AI Bets Lift Son's Net Worth to $50.1 Billion
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · May 22
SoftBank Jumps 30% in 2 Days as AI Bets Lift Son's Net Worth to $50.1 Billion
6 articles · Updated · Business Insider · May 22
SoftBank shares surged nearly 30% over two trading days—up almost 20% on Thursday and 12% on Friday—extending this year's gain to more than 50%.
Reports that OpenAI and SoftBank's SB Energy unit are moving toward IPOs helped fuel the rally, alongside investor demand for AI-linked assets after Nvidia's strong earnings.
Arm Holdings, which SoftBank took public in 2023, now accounts for about 40% of SoftBank's asset value, while Morningstar estimates its OpenAI stake at roughly $80 billion, or 26% of assets.
The rally has sharply narrowed SoftBank's long-standing discount to net asset value and marks a turnaround after Vision Fund writedowns tied to WeWork's collapse and the 2022 tech selloff.
Masayoshi Son's fortune has risen nearly 40% this year to $50.1 billion, making him Japan's second-richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
As credit risks mount, is SoftBank's multi-billion dollar AI bet a visionary move or a bubble about to burst?
Masayoshi Son is building a $500 billion AI empire, but can the world's infrastructure actually support his unprecedented ambition?
SoftBank’s $804 Billion Nikkei Boost: AI Strategy, Arm Holdings, and the Coming OpenAI IPO Wave
Overview
On May 21, 2026, SoftBank Group triggered a dramatic rally in the Japanese stock market, with its surge alone lifting the Nikkei 225 index by about 804 points and helping the index snap a five-day losing streak. This sharp turnaround followed a challenging week when rising Japanese government bond yields had weighed on the market. The rally was fueled by strong earnings from Nvidia, which boosted semiconductor and tech stocks, and by gains in Arm Holdings, a key SoftBank asset. These events highlighted SoftBank’s pivotal role in the market and the growing influence of AI-related investments.