SoftBank Raises Record-Breaking 1.76 Trillion Yen for OpenAI Bet

SoftBank Group has announced the largest simultaneous bond offering in its history, issuing approximately 1.76 trillion yen worth of foreign currency-denominated bonds to finance a further $10 billion investment in OpenAI. The proceeds will primarily fund the third and final installment of a $30 billion additional investment in OpenAI, with payment scheduled for October 1.

The bond issue marks another major step in SoftBank's transformation from a telecommunications and internet investment company into one of the world's largest investors in AI. Masayoshi Son has spent the past decade assembling a portfolio of businesses covering the technology needed to develop, operate, and commercialize increasingly sophisticated AI systems.

SoftBank's investments in OpenAI began in 2024, marking a major shift toward generative AI. The company behind ChatGPT sought additional capital to develop more advanced models and build the computing infrastructure required to operate them. SoftBank has committed to a funding arrangement of up to $40 billion for OpenAI, with part of the investment allocated to outside investors.

The latest bond issuance will provide funding for the remaining OpenAI payment while allowing the company to cancel $10 billion in unused borrowing capacity under a bridge loan facility arranged in March 2026. The scale of the financing highlights the growing importance of OpenAI to SoftBank's investment portfolio, alongside its semiconductor holdings and expanding AI infrastructure businesses.