SoftBank has completed its $40 billion investment in OpenAI, making it one of the largest private tech deals in history. The Japanese conglomerate, led by CEO Masayoshi Son, finalized the last part of the investment in December, completing a multi-stage funding plan announced earlier in 2025.
The investment was made in phases. SoftBank first contributed about $7.5 billion in April through its Vision Fund 2. Later, it raised around $10 billion from co-investors. The final payment of roughly $22–22.5 billion now completes the deal, giving SoftBank an ownership of around 11 percent in OpenAI.
This $40 billion deal initially valued OpenAI at about $300 billion, although secondary transactions have increased its broader market value closer to $500 billion. SoftBank funded part of this investment by selling $5.8 billion in Nvidia shares to free up cash.
OpenAI, known for developing ChatGPT and other leading AI tools, has become a major focus for investors amid the global AI boom. SoftBank’s backing is expected to support the company’s expansion in AI research and infrastructure.
Some of the investment will fund a long-term project called “Stargate,” a partnership with Oracle and other stakeholders to build AI infrastructure and data centers. This will help OpenAI handle more advanced AI applications in the future.
SoftBank’s completed investment shows its strong commitment to AI and positions the company as a key player in the growing artificial intelligence sector. It also reflects the increasing interest from global investors in AI technologies and the infrastructure needed to support them.
With this deal, SoftBank is betting on AI as a strategic area for growth, signaling confidence in the future of the technology and its potential impact on businesses and society.
This investment highlights the rapid rise of AI and the large-scale funding that companies like OpenAI are attracting to drive innovation worldwide.
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