Culture | The setting Son?

Softbank’s gambling founder, Masayoshi Son, is catnip for authors

But readers will remember him as much for his missteps as for his successes

Masayoshi Son gestures as he speaks during the SoftBank World 2024 event in Tokyo, Japan on October 3rd 2024
Masa, in the spotlightPhotograph: Getty Images

Masayoshi Son, boss of SoftBank, a Japanese tech and telecoms giant, is one of the boldest investors of modern times. He earned billions from prescient investments in Arm Holdings, a chip company, and Yahoo and Alibaba, two internet pioneers. Yet Mr Son also vaporised billions with astonishing speed by staking the likes of WeWork and countless other tech confections. Revered for his insight, he is mocked for his overreach.

This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “The setting Son?”

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