📝 Editor’s Note
One of the biggest tech gossips I enjoyed following over the past couple of weeks was the WeWork-Softbank lawsuit. Continuing the series on Asian American Heritage Month, this week’s newsletter features the very investor who spearheaded WeWork investment—Masayoshi Son, founder and CEO of Softbank.
Disclaimer: There is a dizzying amount of numbers in this newsletter. I apologize in advance if you don’t like numbers :)
Masayoshi Son
Early life and education
🇰🇷 Masa was born in Japan but is a Zainichi Korean, which are Japanese people of Korean descent
🇰🇷 His family had adopted a Japanese last name, Yasumoto, which Son used as a child; after graduating from college, he decided to use his Korean last name, Son
🏫 At age 16, he moved to California and finished high school in 3 weeks
🐻 He majored in Economics and Computer Science at UC Berkeley
🖥 As a college student, Son created an electronic translator which was acquired by Sharp Corporation for $1.7mm
🎮 He made an additional $1.5mm by selling used Japanese video game machines and installing them in dormitories and restaurants
Career
🏢 Son founded Softbank in 1981, when he was 24 years old
📈 Under his leadership, Softbank became Japan’s second-largest public company
💰 Softbank is best known for its Vision Fund, the world’s largest technology VC fund, with over $100bn in capital
🤑 Son is best known for his early investment in technology companies, including his $20mm investment in Alibaba in 1999
Personal life
💸 Masa is the second richest man in Japan (#1 is Tadashi Yanai, Chairman of Fast Retailing, UNIQLO’s parent company)
💑 Son met his wife in college and they have two daughters
💼 Son’s younger brother, Taizo Son, is an entrepreneur himself and owns a VC firm
⛳️ He lives in a three-story mansion in Tokyo which has a golf range with technology to mimic the weather conditions of the world’s top golf courses
🏠 He also owns a $117mm house in Woodside, CA
⚾️ He owns the Softbank Hawks, a professional Japanese baseball team
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