SoftBank Invests $40B in OpenAI After NVIDIA Exit

SoftBank Group Corp., the Japanese investment giant, sold all its NVIDIA shares worth $5.83 billion in October 2025 to help finance its landmark $40 billion investment in OpenAI.

The sale was part of SoftBank’s broader asset monetization strategy aimed at freeing capital for large-scale AI and robotics initiatives.

According to its first-half financial report, SoftBank and its asset management arm divested NVIDIA shares for the second time. The company’s first exit occurred in 2019, after acquiring a $4 billion stake in 2017.

Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto said the sale was a strategic necessity to fund the new investment

SoftBank confirmed plans to invest up to $40 billion in OpenAI, consisting of $30 billion in equity and $10 billion in debt. The funding will unfold in two phases — $10 billion was invested in April, and $22.5 billion is scheduled for December, following adjustments to the October agreement.

The original investment plan was revealed in January 2025, when the total range was estimated between $25 billion and $40 billion

To secure financing, SoftBank raised around ¥620 billion ($4.1 billion) via yen bonds, $4.2 billion through foreign loans, and arranged $8.5 billion in loans for OpenAI and $6.5 billion for ABB Robotics.

SoftBank’s AI Vision and Market Impact

SoftBank’s investment aligns with its long-term mission to “realize artificial superintelligence (ASI) for the advancement of humanity.” The company aims to accelerate progress in AI chips, robotics, data centers, and energy technologies.

According to the financial report, SoftBank’s Vision Fund generated $23.4 billion (¥3.54 trillion) in profit this quarter, supported by OpenAI’s preliminary $260 billion valuation. Of that, $14.3 billion came directly from OpenAI-related gains — helping SoftBank double its net profit to $19.3 billion (¥2.924 trillion).

Despite the strong results, SoftBank’s NVIDIA divestment surprised investors, especially after NVIDIA announced plans in September to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI to build 10 GW data centers.

At the end of October, OpenAI completed a major corporate restructuring, forming the for-profit OpenAI Group and the non-profit OpenAI Foundation — a move that allows for greater investment flexibility.

Following the restructuring, SoftBank pledged immediate funding. Earlier in October, OpenAI’s valuation reached $500 billion, officially surpassing SpaceX as the world’s most valuable private company.