SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son aims to grow the company’s net asset value to ¥1 quadrillion (approximately $6.2 trillion) by 2042, a roughly 13-fold increase from the current ¥74 trillion as of June 2026, according to his latest CEO message. The ambitious 16-year target comes as the 68-year-old entrepreneur extends his career well into his 70s, abandoning his long-held plan to retire in his 60s.
Son unveiled the NAV goal at SoftBank’s 2026 annual shareholder meeting in late June, framing it as the company’s next major challenge following the achievement of its 30-year vision launched in 2010. He emphasized that reaching ¥1 quadrillion will require more than simply accumulating existing assets—it will depend on nurturing new businesses and portfolio companies that become what he calls “golden eggs,” using a metaphor he has employed for years to describe SoftBank’s value-generating holdings.
The NAV target is grounded in Son’s revised life plan, which he detailed in his CEO message dated June 24, 2026. For decades, he followed a 50-year roadmap: establish himself in his 20s, build capital in his 30s, pursue major challenges in his 40s, achieve his vision in his 50s, and hand over the business in his 60s. At 68, Son said he now wants to continue working for another 10 to 15 years, shifting his focus to bringing artificial superintelligence (ASI) to life.
“I believe I have more to give to the growth of SBG and can continue working hard for another 10 or 15 years,” Son stated in the message. “With that in mind, I have decided to update my 50-year life plan to continue taking on challenges into my 70s.”
ASI and the Four Pillars of Growth
Son’s strategy to reach the ¥1 quadrillion NAV target rests on SoftBank’s leadership in four critical areas he views as essential to artificial superintelligence: frontier AI models (through OpenAI), semiconductor design (via Arm), AI infrastructure including data centers and power generation, and robotics. He compared these four areas to the four corners in the board game Othello, arguing that securing them gives SoftBank a decisive advantage in the AI era.
SoftBank has committed approximately $64.6 billion to OpenAI, which would give it roughly 13 percent ownership. The company is also developing massive AI data centers—a 10-gigawatt facility in Ohio (announced in March 2026 as a public-private partnership) and a 5-gigawatt center in France (announced in May 2026). In October 2025, SoftBank announced plans to acquire ABB’s robotics business, a global leader in industrial robotics.
Son’s extended career plan marks a significant shift from his public statements over the past decade. In 2016, he told shareholders he was reconsidering whether he still had the energy to lead SoftBank, though he ultimately chose to remain. Now, at a time when many tech leaders are stepping down to make room for younger executives, Son is doubling down on his vision, arguing that the AI revolution is too significant to miss.
“The AI revolution has only just begun,” Son wrote in his June message. “The current evolution of AI resembles the early days of the internet. At that time, people also questioned whether it was merely a passing trend or overvalued. But afterward, tech companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft went on to grow significantly and reshaped the very structure of industries around the world.”
SoftBank’s NAV grew 25-fold from 2010 to 2026—from ¥3 trillion to ¥74 trillion—driven largely by early bets on technology infrastructure and portfolio companies. Son’s new target would require similar exponential growth over the next 16 years, contingent on both the success of SoftBank’s existing holdings and the emergence of new “golden eggs” in the AI and robotics sectors.
Sources
- SoftBank Group Corp. — CEO Message from Masayoshi Son in SoftBank Group Report 2026, dated June 24, 2026; confirmed NAV of ¥74 trillion as of June 23, 2026, and ¥1 quadrillion NAV target by 2042.
- Wall Street Journal — Reporting on Son’s NAV target of $6.189 trillion by 2042 driven by artificial superintelligence strategy, June 24, 2026.
- Storyboard18 — Coverage of Son’s decision to extend his career into his 70s, abandoning retirement plans from his 60s, June 25, 2026.
- Bloomberg — Reporting that Son, at age 68, plans to work another 10 to 15 years and aims to become No. 1 in artificial superintelligence, June 24, 2026.
- Nikkei Asia — Confirmation of SoftBank’s $64.6 billion commitment to OpenAI and the company’s AI infrastructure investments, July 14, 2026.
- Wikipedia / SoftBank Group Biography — Confirmation of Masayoshi Son’s birth date (August 11, 1957) and current age.
