He acknowledged the emotional difficulty of the sale and stressed that the shares would not have been offloaded if SoftBank did not need the money.
“I don’t want to sell a single share. I just had more need for money to invest in OpenAI and other projects,” Son said during the event, as cited by CNBC.
“I was crying to sell Nvidia shares.”
His comments reflect the explanation provided by analysts and SoftBank executives in November, when they described the sale as part of broader efforts to bolster the SoftBank Vision Fund’s cash resources for AI. SoftBank has intensified its focus on artificial intelligence this year through a series of projects, including plans for Stargate Project data centres and the acquisition of US chip designer Ampere Computing.
Turning to ChatGPT
SoftBank’s AI push also includes a substantial bet on OpenAI. The Japanese company could “potentially” increase its investment in the ChatGPT maker depending on performance and the valuation of further rounds, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to CNBC.
Earlier this year, Son said SoftBank was “all in” on OpenAI and predicted that the AI startup would one day become the most valuable company in the world. The bet has already delivered financial benefits, with SoftBank reporting last month that its second-quarter net profit more than doubled to 2.5 trillion yen ($16.6 billion), driven by valuation gains in its OpenAI holdings.
Questions around the scale of investment going into AI have fuelled market concerns about the possibility of an AI bubble. Son pushed back against that view during his speech on Monday, arguing that critics are underestimating the sector.# ‘Didn’t Want to Sell a Single Share’: SoftBank Founder Says He Was ‘Crying’ While Offloading Nvidia Stake — Here’s Why
In the high-stakes world of tech investing, where fortunes are made and lost in the blink of an eye, few figures embody the rollercoaster as vividly as Masayoshi Son, the visionary founder and CEO of SoftBank Group. Known for his audacious bets—from the legendary $20 million Alibaba investment that ballooned into $150 billion to the WeWork debacle that nearly sank his empire—Son has always worn his heart on his sleeve. But in a recent candid admission, he revealed just how gut-wrenching one of his latest moves truly was: selling SoftBank's entire Nvidia stake. "I was crying to sell Nvidia shares," he confessed. It wasn't a lack of faith in the AI chip kingpin; it was the painful necessity of reallocating capital to chase what Son sees as the next trillion-dollar wave. Let's unpack the tears, the trade-off, and what it means for the AI frenzy.
## The Reluctant Exit: A Stake Worth Billions, Sold in Sorrow
SoftBank's journey with Nvidia has been a tale of two sales—both marked by regret. The company first scooped up a roughly $4 billion stake in 2017, only to offload it entirely in 2019 for about $3.6 billion, a move that's now infamous. Had they held on, those shares would be worth over $150 billion today, fueling endless "what if" scenarios in investor circles.
Fast-forward to 2020: SoftBank re-entered the fray, quietly building a position that peaked at 32.1 million shares by mid-2025, valued at around $5.83 billion at the time of sale. In October 2025, they cashed out completely, disclosing the move in their fiscal Q2 earnings in November. The proceeds? A clean $5.83 billion—pocket change for a conglomerate like SoftBank, but a symbolic shift that sent Nvidia shares dipping over 3% in early trading.
Speaking at the FII Priority Asia forum in Tokyo last month, Son didn't mince words about the emotional toll. "I don’t want to sell a single share. I just had more need for money to invest in OpenAI and other projects," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a man torn between loyalty and ambition. He respects Nvidia deeply—CEO Jensen Huang is a close ally, and SoftBank's ecosystem remains intertwined with the chipmaker through joint AI ventures. But necessity trumped sentiment. As Son put it, the sale was "nothing to do with Nvidia itself."
## Why the Tears? Funding the AI Moonshot That Is OpenAI
At its core, this wasn't a vote of no confidence in Nvidia's dominance in AI hardware—far from it. Nvidia's market cap has soared past $3 trillion in 2025, powered by insatiable demand for its GPUs in data centers worldwide. Instead, Son's move was a pragmatic pivot to fuel SoftBank's "all-in" strategy on generative AI software and infrastructure, with OpenAI at the epicenter.
The cash from Nvidia (plus $9.17 billion from partial T-Mobile sales and other financings) is earmarked for a $22.5 billion mega-investment in OpenAI, the ChatGPT powerhouse now valued at a staggering $500 billion. Son envisions OpenAI eclipsing even Apple or Nvidia to become the world's most valuable company, a prophecy that's already juiced SoftBank's bottom line: Their Q2 net profit doubled to 2.5 trillion yen ($16.6 billion), largely from valuation gains on OpenAI holdings.
But it's not just OpenAI. The funds are powering a barrage of AI plays:
- **Stargate Project**: A $500 billion joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle to build massive U.S. data centers, aiming to supercharge AI training at unprecedented scale.
- **Ampere Computing Acquisition**: A $6.5 billion buyout of the U.S. chip designer to bolster Arm-based AI processors (SoftBank owns Arm Holdings).
- **ABB Robotics Deal**: Snapped up for $5.4 billion to dive into AI-driven manufacturing and automation.
- **Intel Stake**: A $2 billion investment to co-develop AI chips leveraging Arm architecture.
Son's Vision Fund, once battered by losses from bets like WeWork, is rebounding as an AI war chest. "We're all in on OpenAI," he declared, potentially scaling up the investment based on performance metrics. It's classic Son: doubling down on the ecosystem where software meets hardware, betting that AI's "picks and shovels" (like Nvidia) will pave the way for trillion-dollar applications.
## No AI Bubble Here—Just 'Not Smart Enough' Skeptics, Says Son
The timing couldn't be more charged. Nvidia's meteoric rise has sparked bubble fears, with Wall Street titans like JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon warning of overhyping. SoftBank's exit amplified the jitters, with Nvidia shares sliding and broader tech dipping in sympathy. But Son? He's having none of it. Critics harping on an AI bubble? "They're not smart enough," he shot back, predicting superintelligent AI and robots will add at least 10% to global GDP—trillions in value that dwarf current investments.
This isn't blind optimism; it's battle-tested conviction. Son's track record is a mix of spectacular wins (Alibaba) and humbling Ls (the $70 billion personal hit in 2000), but his AI pivot has already delivered. SoftBank's stock is up 25% YTD, buoyed by these strategic shifts.
## What It Means for Investors: A Lesson in Ruthless Prioritization?
Son's teary confession humanizes the billionaire gambler, reminding us that even at the top, tough calls sting. For Nvidia bulls, the sale isn't a death knell—SoftBank's exit is tiny relative to the float, and demand for AI chips shows no signs of abating. But it underscores a key truth: In the AI gold rush, capital allocation is king. Selling gold to mine deeper veins? Risky, but that's how empires are built (or buried).
As Son eyes a future where AI reshapes everything from data centers to daily life, one wonders: Will this be his next Alibaba, or another WeWork? History says bet on the vision—and brace for the drama.
What's your read on SoftBank's shuffle? Nvidia hold or OpenAI frenzy? Sound off in the comments. Until next time, keep those portfolios diversified.
*Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and not investment advice. Markets are volatile; always consult a financial advisor.*
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