Masayoshi Son: High-tech gambler

In this episode, the hosts introduce Masayoshi Son, a prominent billionaire and the founder of SoftBank, known for his audacious investment in tech companies. Born in 1957 in Japan, Son faced early discrimination as a Zainichi Korean but showed immense determination and confidence from a young age. After a tumultuous upbringing, he made pivotal choices, like studying in the U.S. and creating innovative products, including an early talking word translator that led to his first million.

Son founded SoftBank in 1981, capitalizing on the growing demand for personal computer software in Japan. Despite initial challenges, he pivoted his business approach following a serious health scare that nearly cost him his life. In the mid-1980s, he capitalized on Japan's deregulated telecommunications market, making moves that would solidify his place in the tech industry.

Throughout his career, Son made several high-stakes investments, including a significant stake in Yahoo! that would catapult him into billionaire status. However, the dot-com crash in the early 2000s caused him to lose 96% of his wealth, marking one of the largest financial downturns in history. Despite this setback, his strategic investments, notably in Alibaba, helped him restore and even grow his fortune.

Son's legacy is marked by his unyielding confidence, ambitious vision, and propensity to take risks, earning him the nickname 'the unicorn hunter.' Even as he approaches the age of 70, he's actively investing in emerging technologies like AI and remains a significant figure in both Japanese and global tech landscapes. The episode concludes with the hosts judging Son's legacy and impact, ultimately deeming him 'just another billionaire' due to his high-risk, high-reward strategies and the mixed results of his investments.