Samsung to Pay Record $65B to $79B to Shareholders on AI Chip Windfall
Samsung Electronics is preparing to pay out a record-breaking sum of money to its shareholders in 2026, following a surge in profits from artificial intelligence (AI) chip sales.
The company plans to return between 90 trillion and 110 trillion won, roughly $65 billion to $79 billion, to investors next year. This payout is fueled by the growing demand for AI-related semiconductors, particularly high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which Samsung produces in large quantities.
The company's shareholder return framework operates under a policy covering 2024 through 2026, which mandates that 50% of its free cash flow gets allocated to investors. This means that the $65 billion to $79 billion payout represents a significant chunk of the company's profits.
For context, during 2024 and 2025 combined, Samsung distributed 20.9 trillion won through dividends and buybacks. The 2026 figure alone could represent roughly four to five times that two-year total, depending on where the final number lands within the projected range.