SoftBank

SoftBank, founded in 1981 by Masayoshi Son, started as a software distributor and morphed into a behemoth of venture capital and telecom. Known for its insatiable appetite for tech investments and a penchant for gobbling up startups, SoftBank’s defining moment came with its $100 billion Vision Fund—a play so audacious it made even Wall Street blink twice. With a current valuation fluctuating around $40 billion, the firm has a mixed bag of triumphs and calamities. Son's gambit with WeWork, once touted as the next big thing, turned into a textbook example of hubris in business, culminating in a spectacularly messy bailout. Despite this, SoftBank remains a heavyweight in the investment ring, with stakes in Alibaba and Uber adding some sparkle to its portfolio. Under the guidance of Son, who oscillates between visionary and risk junkie, SoftBank's drama has included everything from extravagant funding rounds to existential crises. The company’s highs and lows are a reminder that in the world of big money and bigger bets, even the giants can stumble over their own size.