Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son Wanted to Increase His Stake in OpenAI in November 2024
According to sources from the Financial Times, Softbank now plans to invest between $15 billion and $25 billion in OpenAI. If the deal goes through, Softbank will become the largest financial partner of OpenAI, surpassing Microsoft's $14 billion investment.
This investment will be in addition to the $15 billion Softbank plans to invest in the Stargate project, which it is developing with OpenAI and Oracle to build data centers in the United States. As a result, OpenAI may use part of the investment to fund the Stargate project.
In November 2024, sources from CNBC and the Financial Times reported that Softbank would buy $1.5 billion worth of shares from OpenAI employees. Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, after already investing $500 million in OpenAI, had urged for more shares in the company, which had valued OpenAI at $157 billion.
