SoftBank Group has sold its entire $5.83 billion stake in NVIDIA, marking a significant move in its strategy to secure capital for a $22.5 billion investment in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. The Japanese conglomerate also divested part of its holdings in T-Mobile, generating $9.17 billion as part of a broader “asset monetization” initiative aimed at ensuring sustainable funding for its ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor ventures.
“This should not be seen as a cautious or negative stance on Nvidia,” said Rolf Bulk, analyst at New Street Research, clarifying that the divestment aligns with SoftBank’s ongoing funding strategy. He noted that the company required at least $30.5 billion in liquidity to support its upcoming investments, including $6.5 billion earmarked for chipmaker Ampere Computing. Analysts highlighted that the latest round of capital deployment surpasses SoftBank’s total investment outlay from the previous two years combined.
The move comes as SoftBank’s Vision Fund reported a record $19 billion gain, more than doubling the firm’s quarterly profit and underscoring its renewed focus on AI-driven growth. Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto described the portfolio reshaping as part of a deliberate transition toward next-generation technologies. “The reason we were able to have this result is because of September last year, that was the first time we invested in OpenAI,” Goto said.
OpenAI’s soaring valuation—now pegged at around $500 billion—has positioned it among the most valuable companies in the world, with SoftBank seeking to deepen its strategic involvement. Following the recapitalization, SoftBank’s ownership in OpenAI is set to increase from 4 percent to 11 percent, with the possibility of further expansion in the near future.
The asset realignment underscores Masayoshi Son’s long-term vision of consolidating SoftBank’s influence across the AI ecosystem. The proceeds from the NVIDIA and T-Mobile sales are expected to fuel the group’s AI investments, including large-scale data infrastructure, chip innovation, and collaborative projects aimed at establishing SoftBank as a key player in the global AI value chain.
