How Masayoshi Son Built SoftBank on the 300-Year Vision
The CEO Diary with Fexingo: Leadership Lessons, Executive Decisions, and Corner Office Stories · 2026-06-09 · 12 min
Episode notes
In episode 40 of The CEO Diary, Lucas and Luna dive into the strategy of Masayoshi Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank. They explore how Son shaped a conglomerate around a 300-year vision, from his early bet on Alibaba to the massive Vision Fund. Lucas explains Son's approach to 'time arbitrage' — investing in long-term technological shifts like AI and robotics before others see them. Luna questions the risks of his high-leverage bets, including the WeWork loss and the recent sell-off of Alibaba stake. Together they examine whether Son's 'grand plan' is visionary genius or reckless ambition. Specific examples include the $72 million Alibaba investment that became $60 billion, the $100 billion Vision Fund structure, and the 2024 decision to pivot SoftBank toward AI infrastructure. A balanced look at a polarizing CEO who plays by his own rules. #MasayoshiSon #SoftBank #VisionFund #Alibaba #WeWork #300YearVision #AI #Robotics #VentureCapital #LongTermInvesting #Business #Leadership #TechStrategy #JapansBusiness #HighLeverage #TimeArbitrage #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo