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SoftBank Group

SoftBank is a Japan-based telecom and e-commerce conglomerate that has expanded mainly through acquisitions, and its key assets include a 40%-owned mobile and fixed broadband telecom operator business in Japan. It also owns 90% of semiconductor chip designer Arm Holdings following the 2023 IPO of this business, and has a vast portfolio of mainly internet- and e-commerce-focused early-stage investments. It is also general partner of the $100 billion SoftBank Vision Fund 1 and sole investor in SoftBank Vision Fund 2, both of which primarily invest in pre-IPO internet and AI companies.

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TIME revela las 100 empresas más influyentes de 2025. Conoce las compañías en bolsa que lideran innovación y crecimiento este año.

Las empresas más influyentes de 2025 según TIME: ¿Cuáles están en bolsa?

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El Pentágono firma con OpenAI un acuerdo por 200 millones de dólares para aplicar IA avanzada en defensa y seguridad nacional.

OpenAI obtiene contrato del Pentágono por 200 millones para IA en defensa

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News

OpenAI confirma un ritmo de ingresos de 10.000 millones anuales, duplicando cifras desde 2024 y apuntando a un fuerte crecimiento en 2025.

OpenAI duplica ingresos y se encamina a 12.700 millones en 2025 con impulso de ChatGPT

The White House has unveiled &#8220;Winning the AI Race: America&#8217;s AI Action Plan,&#8221; fulfilling President Trump&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence" rel="noreferrer noopener">January executive orde</a>r to remove obstacles to U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
AI chip stocks Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>), and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) gained on Wednesday, giving up Tuesday&#8217;s losses.
The stocks had declined amid reports indicating OpenAI and SoftBank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) clashed, stalling the $500 billion Stargate project and delaying major <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46541517/elon-musk-says-they-simply-dont-have-the-funding-doubts-stargate-ai" rel="noreferrer noopener">data center deals</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46475029/semiconductor-stocks-react-to-key-policies-and-earnings'" rel="noreferrer noopener">Semiconductor Stocks React To Key Policies And Earnings</a>
This comprehensive strategy outlines over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/07/white-house-unveils-americas-ai-action-plan/" rel="noreferrer noopener">90 federal policy actions</a> that will be implemented in the coming weeks and months. These actions advance a vision of technological supremacy designed to secure America&#8217;s economic competitiveness, national security, and global influence.
The plan revolves around three central pillars: Accelerating Innovation, Building American AI Infrastructure, and Leading in International Diplomacy and Security.
It signals an aggressive effort by the Trump administration to ensure the U.S. dominates the AI landscape while supporting American workers and values.
The Departments of Commerce and State will collaborate with industry leaders to deploy secure, end-to-end AI export packages to allied nations, including hardware, software, models, and standards.
The administration will modernize and expedite federal permitting processes for critical infrastructure projects, such as data centers and chip fabrication plants. It also plans to launch national workforce development programs for high-demand roles like electricians and HVAC technicians.
The federal government will streamline AI-related regulations, seeking input from the private sector to remove bureaucratic barriers to innovation and adoption.
Updated procurement standards will require federal contracts with AI developers to ensure large language models remain objective and ideological bias-free.
Price Action: NVDA stock is trading higher by 1.25% to $169.11 at last check Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46549766/micron-launches-first-space-ready-memory-chip-to-power-ai-missions-in-orbit" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Micron Launches First Space-Ready Memory Chip To Power AI Missions In Orbit</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by AKOBCHUK V via Shuttesrtock

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Regulations

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MRVL

Semiconductor Stocks Gain As Trump's AI Action Plan Fuels Hopes of Major Chip Demand Surge

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) saw its stock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing">recover some losses</a> on Wednesday after closing lower on Tuesday. This rebound comes as the company continues to benefit from robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and Taiwan unveils ambitious plans to bolster its position as a global AI powerhouse.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Taiwan&#8217;s Strategic Push into AI</h2>
Taiwan has launched its &#8220;Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects,&#8221; an initiative designed to inject over 15 trillion New Taiwan dollars (approximately $510 billion) into its economy by 2040, Reuters reported on Wednesday. 
This strategic move aims to leverage the island&#8217;s established strengths in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and its world-leading semiconductor industry to become a dominant force in the global AI landscape.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46514251/taiwan-semiconductor-plans-four-new-fabs-as-ai-gold-rush-continues" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor Plans Four New Fabs As AI Gold Rush Continues</a>
At the heart of this initiative are three core technologies identified as strategic pillars: silicon photonics, quantum technology, and AI robotics. 
Silicon photonics, a key area of focus for Taiwan Semiconductor and other industry leaders, is crucial for integrating chip innovation with the evolving demands of AI. 
To cultivate a strong local ecosystem for AI robotics, Taiwan has also established the AI Robotics Industry Grand Alliance, with the backing of Foxconn Chairman Young Liu. 
Furthermore, the government intends to build a comprehensive quantum technology supply chain, enhance sovereign AI capabilities, expand computing infrastructure, and ensure that AI development is balanced across all regions of the island. 
To accelerate this transformation, the government will invest over 100 billion New Taiwan dollars ($3.08 billion) in AI-focused venture capital, aiming to create 500,000 jobs and establish three world-class research laboratories.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stargate Project Setbacks Trigger Dip</h2>
Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor and its chipmaking peers, including Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), and Qualcomm (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), fell on Tuesday after reports revealed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46541517/elon-musk-says-they-simply-dont-have-the-funding-doubts-stargate-ai" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep internal conflicts</a> between OpenAI&#8217;s Sam Altman and SoftBank&#8217;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) Masayoshi Son derailed the ambitious $500 billion Stargate AI project.
The feud stalled progress, slashed the project&#8217;s scale to one smaller Ohio site, and triggered investor concerns, dragging down semiconductor stocks worldwide.
Price Action: TSM stock is trading higher by 1.19% to $237.40 premarket at last check Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46551942/amazons-ai-powered-cost-cuts-labor-gains-and-record-prime-day-drive-analysts-bullish-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon&#8217;s AI-Powered Cost Cuts, Labor Gains And Record Prime Day Drive Analyst&#8217;s Bullish Outlook</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by YAKOBCHUK V via Shutterstock

Asia

QCOM

How Taiwan Is Betting Big On AI To Power Its Economy

On Tuesday, major <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ai">artificial intelligence</a> (AI) chip manufacturers, including Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>), and Qualcomm (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), traded lower.
This decline comes after the reports of significant disagreements between OpenAI and SoftBank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) regarding the operational control and execution of the ambitious $500 billion Stargate AI project, leading to a substantial scale-back of its original scope.
Internal feuds between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son have stalled the project, dramatically scaling back its grand vision, and drawing a sharp &#8220;I told you so&#8221; from Elon Musk, who has consistently questioned the venture&#8217;s financial backing.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46241424/openais-4-5-gw-lease-from-oracle-fuels-stargates-500-billion-vision" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI&#8217;s 4.5 GW Lease From Oracle Fuels Stargate&#8217;s $500 Billion Vision</a>
The Stargate AI project, initially envisioned as a massive $500 billion initiative for building AI infrastructure, has faced severe delays due to fundamental clashes between Altman and Son. 
Although they initially agreed to share leadership, with Altman overseeing operations and Son managing financing, their partnership has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46534661/500-billion-stumble-softbank-openais-massive-ai-vision-faces-setbacks">fraught with disputes</a> over control, governance, and strategic direction.
This feud has stalled significant progress, leaving Stargate without any secured data center deals and scaling ambitions back to a single, smaller facility in Ohio by year&#8217;s end. The internal deadlock has sapped the project&#8217;s momentum just months after its high-profile White House debut.
Amid a persistent shortage of Nvidia chips driven by surging AI demand, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46034864/this-could-be-amds-biggest-ai-win-mi400-chips-may-power-stargate">a June report</a> indicated a growing opportunity for AMD. Companies like Oracle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and OpenAI are increasingly considering AMD&#8217;s next-generation Instinct GPUs, specifically engineered for large-scale AI workloads, as viable alternatives for major projects such as Stargate, given Nvidia&#8217;s challenges in meeting supply.
Arm Holdings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43521100/arm-confirms-central-role-in-100-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-project-with-openai-oracle">solidified its crucial role</a> in the AI landscape by joining OpenAI&#8217;s Stargate infrastructure project in February. During the company&#8217;s third-quarter earnings call, CEO Rene Haas highlighted Arm&#8217;s increasing presence in data center deployments, driven by key collaborations with OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. 
Arm&#8217;s chip architecture is poised to form the core of large-scale AI infrastructure for the Stargate project, beginning with an 875-acre AI campus in Abilene, Texas. This initiative will commence with a 200-megawatt data center, with plans to expand up to 1.2 gigawatts, underscoring Arm&#8217;s architecture as a foundational element for future AI growth.
Adding to the skepticism, Elon Musk has reiterated his doubts about the Stargate project&#8217;s financial viability. Reacting to the news of the stalled OpenAI and SoftBank AI infrastructure venture, Musk posted on&nbsp;X, formerly&nbsp;Twitter, referencing his earlier assertion that the project lacks actual funding.
&#8220;They simply don&#8217;t,&#8221; he wrote, responding to a user <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46536950/elon-musk-doubles-down-on-openai-softbank-stargate-doubts-says-they-simply-dont-have-money-for-the-500-billion-ai-infrastructure-push">who resurfaced</a> his earlier remark &#8211; &#8220;They don&#8217;t actually have the money.&#8221; Musk, whose own AI startup xAI is constructing a massive data center in Memphis, has consistently questioned the feasibility of Stargate.
Price Action: NVDA stock is trading lower by 1.13% to $169.48 premarket at last check Tuesday.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43474406/nvidia-still-a-top-pick-as-microsoft-meta-stick-with-gpus-despite-deepseek-challenge-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Still A Top Pick As Microsoft, Meta Stick With GPUs Despite DeepSeek Challenge: Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Movers

Elon Musk Says 'They Simply Don't' Have The Funding, Doubts Stargate AI

ChatGPT-parent OpenAI may be leading the AI arms race, but its spending habits are raising eyebrows on Wall Street.
What Happened: In a rare note covering a private company on Friday, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) analysts Brenda Duverce and Lula Sheena cautioned that OpenAI's aggressive spending on talent and R&amp;D—what they dubbed "vibe spending"—could test investors' patience, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-jpmorgan-vibe-spending-test-investors-2025-7">reported</a> Business Insider.
According to the note, OpenAI is expected to burn $46 billion over the next four years. While the company has raised $57 billion in just two and a half years, the analysts said profitability may not arrive until 2029. Investor expectations will be "tested," they wrote.
One major cost driver: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46041399/meta-tried-luring-openais-top-minds-with-massive-paychecks-but-sam-altman-neglected-to-mention-that-hes-countering-those-offers-says-andrew-bosworth">retaining top AI talent</a>. Meta Platforms Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) new superintelligence lab has already poached several researchers from OpenAI, reportedly offering compensation <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988600/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-dangled-100-million-signing-bonuses-to-openai-team-members-says-sam-altman-happy-none-of-our-best-people-took-them">well over $100 million</a>.
Seven of Meta's first 10 hires came directly from OpenAI.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/reiteration/25/06/45912952/oracles-ai-ambitions-take-flight-after-record-cloud-growth-what-do-analysts-really-think" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle&#8217;s AI Ambitions Take Flight After Record Cloud Growth: What Do Analysts Really Think?</a>
Still, JPMorgan sees major upside. The firm said OpenAI has a strong first-mover advantage, with its app surpassing 500 million weekly active users this spring—more than 70% of AI app downloads globally in markets where it competes.
The bank also cited India as a key growth market where OpenAI is already overtaking Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google.
Additionally, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45602719/openais-acquisition-of-jony-ives-startup-poses-threat-to-apples-dominance">OpenAI's $6.5 billion acquisition</a> of Jony Ive's hardware startup could create a hardware-software "flywheel," driving revenue through devices and more profitable subscriptions.
Why It Matters: This marks the first time JPMorgan has analyzed a private tech firm like OpenAI, underscoring the company's growing influence.
However, the note also questions whether OpenAI's lead is sustainable. Having the "best AI model" is not a robust moat," the analysts warned, noting that model performance is converging across competitors.
Meanwhile, on Monday, it was reported that six months after its White House debut, the $500 billion Stargate project—a joint <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46534661/500-billion-stumble-softbank-openais-massive-ai-vision-faces-setbacks">AI infrastructure venture</a> between OpenAI and SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>)—has stalled.
Despite promises of a $100 billion immediate investment, it has yet to secure a major <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45898547/openai-looks-to-raise-40-billion-from-global-investors-including-saudi-arabias-pif-indias-reliance-industries-to-accelerate-ai-models-and-stargate-report">data center deal</a> and is now focusing on a smaller facility in Ohio.
As per the report, disagreements over structure, control and strategy between OpenAI and SoftBank have led to delays and scaled-back ambitions, with leadership tensions between Sam Altman and Masayoshi Son slowing progress.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46487059/trump-white-house-to-crack-down-on-woke-ai-with-executive-order-targeting-political-bias-in-government-contracted-chatbots-and-models-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump White House To Crack Down On ‘Woke AI' With Executive Order Targeting Political Bias In Government-Contracted Chatbots And Models: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Svet foto / Shutterstock.com

OpenAI Is Spending Billions To Stay Ahead In AI—But JPMorgan Warns This 'Vibe Spending' Could Push Investors To Their Limit

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk has renewed his skepticism over the ambitious Stargate project—a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46534661/500-billion-stumble-softbank-openais-massive-ai-vision-faces-setbacks">$500 billion AI infrastructure</a> venture between OpenAI and SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>)—saying the plan lacks actual financial backing.
What Happened: On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the high-profile Stargate project, announced at the White House six months ago, has stalled.
Despite initial promises of pouring in $100 billion &#8220;immediately,&#8221; the initiative has not secured a single major data center deal.
Instead, the effort has been scaled down to focus on building a smaller facility in Ohio by the end of the year. Disagreements between OpenAI and SoftBank over the structure and control of the partnership have further slowed progress, the report said.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/reiteration/25/06/45912952/oracles-ai-ambitions-take-flight-after-record-cloud-growth-what-do-analysts-really-think" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle's AI Ambitions Take Flight After Record Cloud Growth: What Do Analysts Really Think?</a>
Following the update, Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter, reinforcing a comment he made in January. "They simply don't," he wrote, responding to a user who resurfaced his earlier remark—"They don't actually have the money."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">They simply don't
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1947428689765142971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It's Important: Musk, whose AI startup xAI is building a large data center in Memphis, has long voiced doubts about the financial and logistical feasibility of Stargate.
The project was initially intended to significantly boost <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44069390/elon-musk-calls-softbanks-masayoshi-son-overleveraged-as-16-billion-ai-loan-fuels-debate-about-viability-of-openais-stargate-project">America's AI infrastructure</a> and was led by SoftBank's Masayoshi Son and OpenAI's Sam Altman.
Meanwhile, OpenAI appears to be moving ahead with alternative plans. The company has reportedly secured a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46241424/openais-4-5-gw-lease-from-oracle-fuels-stargates-500-billion-vision">$30 billion deal</a> with Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) to expand its computational capacity.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46487059/trump-white-house-to-crack-down-on-woke-ai-with-executive-order-targeting-political-bias-in-government-contracted-chatbots-and-models-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump White House To Crack Down On ‘Woke AI&#8217; With Executive Order Targeting Political Bias In Government-Contracted Chatbots And Models: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Photo Courtesy: Frederic Legrand &#8211; COMEO on Shutterstock.com
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

TSLA

Elon Musk Doubles Down On OpenAI-Softbank Stargate Doubts—Says 'They Simply Don't' Have Money For The $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Push

Larry Ellison, Oracle Corp.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) co-founder and chairman, has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45919978/larry-ellison-overtakes-jeff-bezos-mark-zuckerberg-to-become-worlds-second-richest-amid-oracles-watershed-moment">once again</a> overtaken Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) CEO Mark Zuckerberg to become the world's second-richest person. This is despite them both having $251 billion net worth.
What Happened: According to Bloomberg's Billionaire <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">Index</a>, Ellison and Zuckerberg are tied at $251 billion, but because Ellison has gained $59 billion this year while the Meta CEO is up $43.4 billion, the Oracle co-founder might have placed above.
This ranks him just after Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who remains the world's richest person at $358 billion.
Others in the top five wealthiest individuals list are Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) founder Jeff Bezos and former Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO Steve Ballmer, with net worths of $247 billion and $174 billion, respectively.&nbsp;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46434347/nvidia-says-washington-gets-it-after-trumps-ai-czar-david-sacks-says-us-has-to-outcompete-global-rivals">Nvidia Says &#8216;Washington Gets It&#8217; After Trump&#8217;s AI Czar David Sacks Says US Has To &#8216;Outcompete&#8217; Global Rivals</a>
Why It&#8217;s Important: Ellison's wealth, more than 80% of which is tied to Oracle stock and options, soared as Oracle shares climbed 47.27% in the last six months, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-15/ellison-overtakes-zuckerberg-as-world-s-second-richest-person">reported </a>Bloomberg.
The rally followed news on Tuesday that the U.S. government would <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46409079/nvidia-growth-estimates-get-10-boost-as-us-lifts-china-chip-export-curbs-gene-munster-predicts-30-35-growth-for-2026">ease export restrictions</a>, allowing chipmakers like Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) to resume selling some semiconductors to China.
Oracle, which relies on high-end chips for its cloud and AI infrastructure, was among the top beneficiaries of the policy shift with a gain of 2.48% during Tuesday's regular trading session, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
The company has also inked <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44188361/nvidia-powers-openai-and-oracles-100-billion-stargate-first-ai-data-center-set-to-launch-in-texas">multibillion-dollar cloud deals</a> and ramped up partnerships with firms including OpenAI and SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) as part of its Stargate initiative.
Oracle's stock has also nearly tripled since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022, the report said.
According to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, Oracle is demonstrating strong positive momentum in the short, medium and long term. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'">Additional performance insights are available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/16023211/Screenshot-2025-07-16-at-12.00.15%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-987149" /></a></figure>
Photo courtesy: drserg / Shutterstock.com
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Larry Ellison Surges Past Mark Zuckerberg To Become World's Second-Richest Person As Oracle's AI Deals With OpenAI, US Government Drive Massive Stock Surge

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ai-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">Artificial intelligence (AI) chip stocks</a>, including industry giants like Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), alongside key players such as Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>), and Micron Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>), saw a significant surge in their stock prices on Tuesday.
This market uptick was primarily driven by two major developments: reports indicating the Trump administration&#8217;s plans to announce substantial AI and energy investments in Pennsylvania, and the U.S. government&#8217;s decision to lift certain chip export restrictions to China.
President Donald Trump is set to unveil a major initiative on Tuesday near Pittsburgh, detailing plans for approximately $70 billion in new investments in artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46295574/nvidia-outpaces-market-with-ai-powered-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Outpaces Market With AI-Powered Growth, Nears Record Highs</a>
Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-14/trump-to-unveil-70-billion-in-ai-and-energy-investments?sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> on Monday that this comprehensive plan encompasses the development of new AI data centers, the expansion of power generation capabilities, critical upgrades to grid infrastructure, and the introduction of new training programs and apprenticeships.
This announcement represents a pivotal move in Trump&#8217;s broader strategy to bolster America&#8217;s leadership in AI by actively encouraging private investment, streamlining regulatory processes, and expediting permits for both technology and energy projects.
The event, hosted by Senator David McCormick at Carnegie Mellon University, is expected to draw a distinguished gathering of around 60 top executives from various sectors, including leaders from BlackRock (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>), Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), Anthropic, ExxonMobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>), and Chevron (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>).
Further underscoring the magnitude of these investments, Blackstone President Jon Gray is anticipated to announce a $25 billion initiative specifically targeting data center and energy infrastructure expansion.
This project is projected to generate thousands of construction and permanent jobs, contributing significantly to the economy. This follows earlier announcements made under Trump&#8217;s second term, notably a staggering $100 billion AI investment pledge from a consortium including SoftBank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), OpenAI, and Oracle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>).
These strategic moves, alongside the recent rollback of Biden-era AI chip restrictions, are explicitly aimed at counteracting China&#8217;s aggressive advancements in AI and maintaining the United States&#8217; technological superiority on the global stage.
Adding to the positive momentum for Nvidia and other chip stocks was the U.S. government&#8217;s recent decision to ease chip <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46409079/nvidia-growth-estimates-get-10-boost-as-us-lifts-china-chip-export-curbs-gene-munster-predicts-30-35-growth-for-2026" rel="noreferrer noopener">export restrictions to China</a>. This move is particularly impactful for companies like Nvidia, which had faced significant revenue setbacks due to previous bans.
Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, expressed optimism, stating that Wall Street analysts are likely to raise Nvidia&#8217;s growth estimates by approximately 10% following this development.
While acknowledging that some analysts might have already factored in the return of Nvidia&#8217;s H20 chips to the Chinese market, Munster still anticipates a boost to overall forecasts, emphasizing that, &#8220;Either way you look at it, great news for $NVDA.&#8221;
This is especially relevant given that Nvidia had previously incurred a substantial $4.5 billion charge in the first quarter of this year, directly attributable to the export ban on its H20 products to China, which was enforced on April 9.
NVDA Price Action: NVDA stock is trading higher by 4.69% to $171.75 premarket at last check Tuesday.
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Image via Shutterstock

Trump's Latest Move On AI And China Propels Chip Stocks

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/arm" rel="noreferrer noopener">British smartphone chip designer</a> Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) trades above its 50-day moving average of $134.91. The stock surged 20% year-to-date, 39% in the last three months.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ 100 Index (dominated by Nvidia (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)), which includes Arm, gained over 8% and 19% during the periods.
Nearly all smartphones run on processors built using Arm&#8217;s architecture. SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>)- owned Arm creates the core design blueprints and licenses them to companies such as Qualcomm (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), Samsung (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>), and Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), which then develop and manufacture the final chips.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45924007/arm-ceo-warns-chip-sanctions-on-china-are-counterproductive-for-usa" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arm CEO Warns Chip Sanctions On China Are Counterproductive For USA</a>
Arm rival Nvidia gained over 19% and 40% during the periods, backed by demand for its Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and its Compute and Networking segment, which includes AI processors and data center architecture.&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Is Fueling Arm&#8217;s Upside?</h2>
On May 7, Arm Holdings reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45268429/arm-holdings-stock-plunges-after-q4-results-heres-why" rel="noreferrer noopener">fourth-quarter revenue</a> of $1.24 billion (up from $928 million a year ago), which beat the consensus estimate of&nbsp;$1.23 billion.
This was driven by increased deployment of its CSS platforms across AI data centers, cloud computing, and mobile. The company reported it achieved record licensing revenue and delivered record royalty revenue exceeding $600 million in the fourth quarter.
ARM projects first-quarter revenue of $1 billion to 1.1 billion, representing 12% growth, with royalty growth accelerating to 25-30%.
Rene Haas, CEO, emphasized <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45277764/arm-says-tariffs-cant-touch-its-business-as-ai-boom-fuels-record-revenue-cant-run-ai-without-arm-ceo-rene-haas-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">that the company</a> remains a primary beneficiary of rising AI demand, stating that AI is transforming every industry, and Arm is essential to powering it.
He also projected strong momentum in the data center space, expecting up to 50% of new server chips at hyperscalers to use Arm-based designs this year.
Arm CFO Jason Child explained that the company withheld full-year guidance due to macroeconomic uncertainties, including potential indirect effects from U.S.-China tariffs.
He reassured investors that tariffs don&#8217;t directly affect Arm since it provides services—not end products—but noted that 10–20% of royalty revenue tied to U.S. shipments could see minor demand-driven impacts.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Are The Macroeconomic Growth Drivers For Arm?</h2>
Arm stands to gain from several recent developments boosting the U.S. chip industry. President Donald Trump&#8217;s newly passed &#8220;Big Beautiful Bill&#8221; raises the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46295574/nvidia-outpaces-market-with-ai-powered-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">semiconductor investment tax credit</a> from 25% to 30% through 2026, encouraging chipmakers to expand domestic manufacturing, potentially increasing demand for Arm&#8217;s chip designs.
In addition, the bill eliminates the $7,500 EV tax credit starting September 30, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46279040/tax-credits-are-ending-can-mullens-global-push-and-crypto-pivot-win-over-ev-buyers" rel="noreferrer noopener">prompting automakers to</a> hike EV prices. Higher margins could give these companies more room to invest in advanced chips, further supporting Arm&#8217;s growth as a leading chip architecture provider.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Do Experts Think About Arm?</h2>
After the quarterly results, analysts slashed their price forecasts on Arm, citing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/earnings-beats/25/05/45293838/arm-holdings-posts-record-q4-revenues-q1-guidance-lower-as-indirect-tariff-impacts-loom-analysts-cut-price-targets" rel="noreferrer noopener">indirect tariff impacts</a>.
On June 11, in CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#8221; Jim Cramer backed Arm, saying <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45881307/jim-cramer-says-joby-aviation-is-good-and-hes-going-with-it" rel="noreferrer noopener">investors are in</a> good hands with CEO Rene Haas, whom he praised as a strong leader and a key partner of Nvidia.
Thirty analysts have assigned Arm a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ARM/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus price forecast</a> of $151.72. Rosenblatt set the highest forecast at $225 on February 6, 2025. Based on the latest ratings from Mizuho, Guggenheim, and Loop Capital, which average $174, Arm could see an implied upside of 16.97%.
On June 9, Bank of America Securities analyst Vivek Arya highlighted Arm&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/45845825/ai-momentum-powers-nvidia-arm-and-chip-supply-chain-in-bofa-recap" rel="noreferrer noopener">growing strength in</a> the data center space, noting that the company expects to maintain a 50% share of server CPU deployments this year.
He raised his price forecast on Arm to $150 from $135, citing its expanding market share, robust licensing model, and rising royalty rates—factors that give it a stronger growth profile than rivals like Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), and Intel (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>).
Arya reaffirmed his bullish stance on Nvidia, calling it the best positioned to capitalize on the AI boom due to its unmatched performance lead, massive developer base, and full-scale rack system production.
While AMD shows solid momentum with strong second-quarter sell-through and potential seasonal gains, Intel continues to face concerns around tariff-related PC pull-ins.
Price Action: ARM stock is up by 1.17% at $149.52 at the last check Wednesday.
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Chipmaker Arm Is Riding AI Wave And Outperforming The Market

<a href="https://comet.perplexity.ai/" title="https://comet.perplexity.ai/">https://comet.perplexity.ai/</a>

Perplexity Launches Web Browser, Comet; Says Beginning Wednesday, Comet Is Available To Perplexity Max Subscribers

OpenAI, the AI powerhouse backed by Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), on Wednesday announced it has agreed to lease 4.5 gigawatts of computing power from Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) under its Stargate initiative, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-02/oracle-openai-ink-stargate-deal-for-4-5-gigawatts-of-us-data-center-power?sref=TBDibEcD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> on Thursday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Oracle has committed $7 billion in the Stargate joint venture and plans to spend $25 billion in capital expenditure in 2026, well above prior estimates.
Coinciding with these developments, Oracle announced a single cloud deal worth $30 billion involving Stargate in annual revenue beginning in fiscal 2028 with an undisclosed customer, reportedly, OpenAI, the Financial Times <a href="https://www-ft-com.ezphost.dur.ac.uk/content/b4324903-ff53-48c2-bf71-4151cd4f68d0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cited</a> unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/reiteration/25/06/45912952/oracles-ai-ambitions-take-flight-after-record-cloud-growth-what-do-analysts-really-think" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle&#8217;s AI Ambitions Take Flight After Record Cloud Growth: What Do Analysts Really Think?</a>
Stargate, OpenAI&#8217;s project with partners including Oracle and&nbsp;SoftBank Group&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), proposed investing $500 billion to build data centres in the U.S. and globally.
It aims to establish expansive AI data centers across the U.S. and globally, fundamentally reshaping the computational infrastructure for advanced AI models.
On January 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump formally announced the Stargate project. SoftBank&#8217;s CEO, Masayoshi Son, is the venture&#8217;s chairman.
The joint venture has raised about $50 billion from its founding partners, including Oracle and Abu Dhabi sovereign fund MGX.
Potential locations for the new data centre included Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Wyoming, New Mexico, Georgia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Oracle also plans to expand a 1.2GW Stargate facility in Abilene, Texas, with development partner Crusoe.
To support the computational needs of Stargate, Oracle is making substantial investments in hardware. It plans to purchase nearly 400,000 Nvidia Corp.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) GB200 chips for an estimated <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45599854/oracle-to-spend-40-billion-on-nvidia-gb200-chips-for-openais-texas-data-center-report">$40 billion to power its data center</a> in Abilene, Texas. 
Oracle stock surged 38% year-to-date, topping the S&amp;P 500 and NASDAQ Composite indexes&#8217; approximately 6% returns. The company stock price is trading close to its 52-week high of $231.90.
Wedbush Securities analyst&nbsp;Dan Ives, on June 18, named Oracle as one of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45996376/dan-ives-says-oracle-and-ibm-are-the-new-microsoft-in-big-catch-up-trade-broader-ai-tailwind-is-far-from-priced-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">overlooked AI plays</a>, comparing its current setup to Microsoft&#8217;s breakout in mid-2023. He expects institutional investors to rotate into Oracle as they catch up to the AI trade. Ives noted Oracle is now positioned as a key AI infrastructure player with a strong enterprise customer base.
ORCL Price Action: Oracle stock is trading higher by 0.63% to $231.42 premarket at last check Thursday.
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Photo by Svet foto via Shutterstock

OpenAI's 4.5 GW Lease From Oracle Fuels Stargate's $500 Billion Vision

Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla revealed how Elon Musk&#8216;s funding withdrawal from OpenAI created the investment opportunity that led to his conviction bet on the artificial intelligence startup, according to his recent appearance on the Uncapped podcast with Jack Altman.
What Happened: Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, described his OpenAI investment as &#8220;more than twice the largest initial investment I&#8217;d made in four years of venture capital,&#8221; emphasizing it was a conviction play based on fundamental analysis rather than &#8220;herd mentality.&#8221; 
The investment decision came in 2018 when Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Musk failed to meet his funding commitments to OpenAI.
&#8220;When Elon backed off funding OpenAI, he committed a lot of money that he didn&#8217;t meet his commitments for, and when Sam [Altman] called me I looked at that and said &#8216;We have the right team,'&#8221; Khosla explained during the podcast.
The veteran investor expressed concerns about competitive dynamics in the AI landscape, particularly regarding Chinese company Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) and Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google. He noted that Google &#8220;was moving very slowly&#8221; while Baidu &#8220;was stealing Google&#8217;s people by setting up an office down the street and stealing their expertise.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46215067/bill-gates-once-had-a-gaping-hole-in-his-dashboard-sequoias-michael-moritz-recalls-being-chauffeured-by-a-future-billionaire-obsessed-with-a-7-minute-commute-while-building-microsoft">Bill Gates Once Had A &#8216;Gaping Hole&#8217; In His Dashboard: Sequoia&#8217;s Michael Moritz Recalls Being Chauffeured By A Future Billionaire Obsessed With A 7-Minute Commute While Building Microsoft</a>
Why It Matters: Khosla&#8217;s investment thesis was built on years of preparation. He had been tracking AI progress since 2000, when he predicted AI would redefine humanity. By 2012, he published blogs questioning whether AI would replace doctors and teachers. His 2016 presentation to the National Bureau of Economic Research examined which occupations could be displaced by AI technology.
The decision to back OpenAI stemmed from Khosla&#8217;s analysis of talent influx and performance benchmarks. &#8220;I looked at the rate of progress and the rate of talent influx, those two things convinced me the moment for AI was soon,&#8221; he said. Despite uncertainty about timing, Khosla told his partner the investment was &#8220;too important to not try.&#8221;
OpenAI&#8217;s current valuation has reached $300 billion following a $40 billion funding round, with backing from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and SoftBank Group Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#NYSE">SFTBY</a>). The company&#8217;s transition from nonprofit to for-profit structure has drawn legal challenges from Musk, who co-founded OpenAI before departing in 2018.
Khosla&#8217;s track record includes the $7 billion return on a $3 million Juniper Networks investment, achieved by betting against industry consensus on internet protocols. 
Read Next:
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Svet foto / Shutterstock.com

Entrepreneurship

BIDU

Vinod Khosla Recalls Betting On OpenAI After Elon Musk Backed Off Funding: Google Was Moving Very 'Slow,' Baidu Was Stealing Talent

Palo Alto Networks Inc. CEO Nikesh Arora revealed insights into SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) CEO Masayoshi Son&#8216;s risk-taking philosophy during a recent podcast appearance, comparing the Japanese billionaire&#8217;s approach to life to the fictional character Benjamin Button.
What Happened: Speaking on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath&#8216;s podcast, Arora described how Son, now 67, embodied a reverse-aging mentality between the ages of 50 and 60.
&#8220;He was going, touching everything his mother said don&#8217;t touch,&#8221; Arora said, referencing how most cultures teach risk aversion from childhood.
Arora, who worked alongside Son at SoftBank, characterized the investor as someone who defied conventional wisdom about settling down and minimizing risk. &#8220;Masa&#8217;s the other way around. &#8216;What are we going to do today? Great. All in,'&#8221; Arora explained.
Son&#8217;s aggressive investment strategy has generated both spectacular wins and losses throughout his career. The SoftBank founder struck gold four times with major investments, including Yahoo! Japan, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), and ARM Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>).
However, his risk appetite also led to dramatic volatility, with Son becoming the world&#8217;s richest man briefly before facing near-bankruptcy.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46189133/nikita-bier-the-founder-of-gas-and-tbh-who-once-asked-elon-musk-to-hire-him-as-vp-of-product-at-twitter-has-joined-x-never-give-up">Nikita Bier, The Founder Of Gas And TBH, Who Once Asked Elon Musk To Hire Him As VP Of Product At Twitter, Has Joined X: &#8216;Never Give Up&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This high-stakes approach continues today as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in">SoftBank positions itself for artificial intelligence dominance</a>. The company has committed $32 billion to OpenAI since 2024, with Son declaring &#8220;I&#8217;m all in on OpenAI&#8221; at the firm&#8217;s annual shareholder meeting in June. 
SoftBank reportedly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46023729/softbanks-masayoshi-son-proposes-1-trillion-robotics-and-ai-hub-in-arizona-with-tsmc">proposed a $1 trillion robotics and AI hub in Arizona</a> alongside Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>).
Son&#8217;s cultural background provides context for his contrarian philosophy. Arora noted how traditional risk management, particularly from mothers warning children against dangerous activities, shapes most people&#8217;s approach to life. Son deliberately rejected this framework, choosing instead to embrace maximum risk in pursuit of transformational opportunities.
The strategy has paid off handsomely despite setbacks. SoftBank&#8217;s Vision Funds have invested in over 400 companies, though <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39743441/after-losing-150b-nvidia-opportunity-masayoshi-sons-softbank-acquires-uk-chipmaker-graphcore-in-">the firm notably sold</a> its Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) stake in 2019, missing out on gains worth over $150 billion. Son&#8217;s current net worth stands at $38.8 billion according <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/masayoshi-son/">to</a> Forbes, making him Japan&#8217;s second-richest person.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/07/46188863/when-kevin-oleary-found-his-mother-was-secretly-an-investing-genius-the-performance-was-extraordinary-and-better-than-most-hedge-funds">When Kevin O&#8217;Leary Found His Mother Was Secretly An Investing Genius: &#8216;The Performance Was Extraordinary&#8217; And Better Than Most Hedge Funds</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: glen photo / Shutterstock.com

PANW

SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Lived Life Like 'Benjamin Button' — Nikesh Arora Says He Took Every Risk His Mother Warned Him About And Struck Gold With Alibaba, ARM

This week told a familiar story with fresh twists—inflation isn't backing down, and global tensions are once <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/macro-economic-events#more-news" rel="noreferrer noopener">again steering the market mood</a>.
The latest data showed that the Personal Consumption Expenditures, or PCE price index, rose 2.3% in May from a year earlier, slightly up from April&#8217;s 2.2%, snapping <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46137796/inflation-is-heating-up-again-are-tariffs-to-blame" rel="noreferrer noopener">a two-month cooling trend</a>.
While the monthly increase stayed steady at 0.1%, concerns grew that rising tariffs on foreign goods could soon hit U.S. consumers harder.
The economic unease was only amplified on Friday, when President Donald Trump abruptly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46150909/trump-canada-tariffs-dollar-deal" rel="noreferrer noopener">called off all trade talks with Canada</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/45930878/canada-risks-losing-billions-annually-without-critical-minerals-action" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canada Risks Losing $8.7B Annually Without Critical Minerals Action</a>
His move came in response to Canada&#8217;s newly introduced Digital Services Tax, which he slammed as a direct attack on American tech companies. Declaring retaliation was imminent, Trump promised to announce new tariffs on Canadian goods within a week—sending markets tumbling and investors rushing for cover.
Amid the macroeconomic jitters and geopolitical headlines, several companies delivered key corporate updates and earnings results that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets" rel="noreferrer noopener">kept investors tuned in</a>.
Earnings Results
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDS#NYSE">FDS</a>) reported quarterly sales of $585.52 million, surpassing&nbsp;analyst expectations&nbsp;of $580.50 million and representing a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/06/46053063/factset-reports-q3-revenue-beat-client-growth-leadership-shift-with-jpmorgan-hire" rel="noreferrer noopener">5.9% year-over-year gain.</a>
FactSet announced that&nbsp;Phil Snow will retire as CEO and a member of the Board, effective early September 2025.&nbsp;
Technology
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) &nbsp;leaped over Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) to become the most valuable company in the world on Thursday, with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46151686/nvidia-just-became-the-worlds-most-valuable-stock-is-it-time-for-a-semiconductor-etf-rethink" rel="noreferrer noopener">market capitalization crossing $3.7 trillion. </a>But as the chipmaker solidifies its position as the foundation of the AI era, one segment of Wall Street is somewhat lagging behind —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs" rel="noreferrer noopener">semiconductor ETFs</a>.
Microsoft postponed the commercialization of its in-house next-gen&nbsp;artificial intelligence chip, Maia (code-named Braga), by at least six months from 2025 to 2026 due to unexpected changes to its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46149318/microsofts-next-gen-ai-chip-still-lags-nvidias-blackwell-postpones-launch" rel="noreferrer noopener">design and staffing constraints.</a>
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) has been dealt a legal blow in Japan as a court has ruled that the company infringed on patents held by&nbsp;Pantech, resulting in a ban on the sale of its&nbsp;Pixel 7&nbsp;series smartphones.
Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;has appointed&nbsp;Kobi Bar-Nathan&nbsp;as the new finance chief for its rapidly expanding&nbsp;Google Cloud division. He commenced his role in June 2025, bringing&nbsp;extensive experience&nbsp;from key finance leadership positions at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134725/google-cloud-hires-former-oracle-cfo-as-ai-race-heats-up" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle Cloud and Microsoft Cloud.</a>
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)&nbsp;is making a return to high-budget theatrical releases with the opening of its racing drama &#8220;F1&#8221;&nbsp;on Friday. The film&#8217;s reported $300 million budget highlights both the company&#8217;s determination to make a mark in Hollywood and the persistent financial <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/46142591/apples-f1-movie-burns-300-million-still-waiting-on-a-profit" rel="noreferrer noopener">challenges it&nbsp;faces in this arena.&nbsp;</a>
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Softbank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) CEO&nbsp;Masayoshi Son&nbsp;said that he plans to position the company as the&nbsp;leading platform provider&nbsp;in the artificial super intelligence (ASI) sector within the next decade, aiming to rival major tech firms like&nbsp;Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">.</a>
Apple&#8217;s Siri&nbsp;is far behind&nbsp;OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT, according to a comparison conducted by&nbsp;Deepwater Asset Management, receiving an &#8220;F&#8221; while ChatGPT<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46156830/siri-gets-f-while-openais-chatgpt-scores-an-a-gene-munster-says-heres-what-apple-needs-to-fix-before-2026-launch-to-stay-relevant-in-ai" rel="noreferrer noopener"> has scored an &#8220;A.&#8221;</a>
Automobiles
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has revealed that it pumped nearly $10 billion into its U.S. operations&nbsp;during the last fiscal year and plans to allocate<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46046720/tesla-doubles-down-on-us-elon-musk-plans-another-8-billion-investment-after-spending-nearly-10-billion-in-2024" rel="noreferrer noopener"> an additional $8 billion this year.</a>
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>):&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Jim Farley&nbsp;voiced skepticism about&nbsp;Tesla&#8217;s autonomous driving strategy, underscoring the necessity of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46156654/ford-ceo-jim-farley-believes-waymos-approach-makes-more-sense-than-elon-musk-led-teslas-when-you-have-a-brand-like-ford-you-have-to-be-really-careful" rel="noreferrer noopener">consumer trust and prudence</a>.
Xiaomi Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACY#OTC">XIACY</a>)&nbsp;unveiled the company&#8217;s first all-electric SUV, the YU7, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/06/46132552/telsla-model-y-rival-xiaomi-yu7-suv-receives-nearly-300000-orders-in-1-hour-in-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">as a rival to&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/06/46132552/telsla-model-y-rival-xiaomi-yu7-suv-receives-nearly-300000-orders-in-1-hour-in-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla.</a>
General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) has issued a recall for over 62,468 vehicles in the U.S. over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46111407/general-motors-recalls-over-62000-vehicles-for-brake-issue-that-could-potentially-result-in-a-fire-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">a brake pressure sensor issue.</a>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46125266/thank-you-elon-musks-longtime-aide-reportedly-fired-days-after-public-praise">&#8216;Thank You, Elon:&#8217; Musk&#8217;s Longtime Aide Reportedly Fired Days After Public Praise</a></li>
</ul>

Equities

Markets

General

XIACY

Consumer Tech News (June 23–June 27): Inflation Stirs, Trade Tensions Flare, And Big Tech Makes Big Moves

Time Magazine&#8217;s annual 100 Most Influential Companies list for 2025 includes many companies investors are familiar with, with numerous names originating from the growing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence sector.</a>
The <a href="https://time.com/7297630/time-reveals-the-2025-time100-most-influential-companies-in-the-world/">list</a> seeks to honor the top businesses that are helping "chart an essential path forward."
"No single data point or financial metric makes a TIME100 Company. Instead, we looked at a mosaic of qualities, studying impact, innovation, ambition, and success, each in the forms that take shape today. And as we say for all TIME100 projects: influence comes in many forms, for better and for worse," Time editors said of the list.
 The Public Companies: Similar to the list of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/04/44854679/time-100-most-influential-people-includes-elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-alex-karp-and-more-public-company-ceos">Most Influential People</a> that Time published earlier this year, the list of influential companies includes top tech, AI, crypto, and healthcare names that are experiencing impressive growth and bringing life-changing technology to consumers or other companies.
Here is the list of publicly traded companies or those that are part of a publicly traded company. It is broken down by the key groups used by Time: Innovators, Disruptors, Leaders, Titans and Pioneers.
Innovators
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>On Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONON#NYSE">ONON</a>): footwear</li>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>): Chinese e-commerce</li>
<li>Nintendo Co (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTDOY#OTC">NTDOY</a>): video games</li>
<li>BYD Co (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>)(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDF#OTC">BYDDF</a>): electric vehicles</li>
<li>Gap, unit of Gap Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GAP#NYSE">GAP</a>): apparel</li>
<li>Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKS#NYSE">DKS</a>): sports and outdoor retailer</li>
<li>EssilorLuxottica (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLOY#OTC">ESLOY</a>): sunglasses, optical wear</li>
</ul>
Disruptors
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Waymo, unit of Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</li>
<li>Life Time Group Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LTH#NYSE">LTH</a>): fitness centers</li>
<li>Elf Beauty (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELF#NYSE">ELF</a>): beauty products</li>
<li>Poppi, unit of PepsiCo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>): beverages</li>
<li>UFC, unit of TKO Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TKO#NYSE">TKO</a>): fighting sports league</li>
<li>Pop Mart (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PMRTY#OTC">PMRTY</a>): pop culture retailer</li>
<li>Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>): cryptocurrency trading platform</li>
<li>SharkNinja Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SN#NYSE">SN</a>): home appliances</li>
</ul>
Leaders
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Engie (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENGIY#OTC">ENGIY</a>): energy company</li>
<li>Prologis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLD#NYSE">PLD</a>): industrial and logistics real estate</li>
<li>Cloudflare Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NET#NASDAQ">NET</a>): a software company</li>
<li>Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>): biotechnology, healthcare</li>
<li>Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUOL#NASDAQ">DUOL</a>): mobile learning</li>
<li>BlackRock (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>): financials</li>
<li>Hyundai Motor (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYMTF#OTC">HYMTF</a>): automotives</li>
<li>LinkedIn, unit of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): social networking</li>
<li>Coursera Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COUR#NYSE">COUR</a>): online learning</li>
</ul>
Titans
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>): conglomerate</li>
<li>Comcast, NBC Universal, units of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>): media and entertainment</li>
<li>L'Oreal (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRLCY#OTC">LRLCY</a>): beauty company</li>
<li>DoorDash Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>): food delivery</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>): social networking</li>
<li>Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>): a software company</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): e-commerce</li>
<li>Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>): semiconductors</li>
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>): consumer products</li>
<li>Fiserv Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FI#NYSE">FI</a>): financial technology</li>
<li>MercadoLibre Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>): Latin American e-commerce</li>
<li>Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>): retailer</li>
<li>Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>): streaming</li>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>): semiconductors</li>
<li>Universal Music Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNVGY#OTC">UNVGY</a>)(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UMGNF#OTC">UMGNF</a>): music publishing</li>
</ul>
Pioneers
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>): semiconductors</li>
<li>Equinor ASA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQNR#NYSE">EQNR</a>): oil and gas</li>
<li>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>): medical devices</li>
<li>Softbank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>)(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>): telecom and e-commerce conglomerate</li>
<li>CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRSP#NASDAQ">CRSP</a>): gene editing</li>
</ul>
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/09/40760039/elon-musk-less-influential-to-artificial-intelligence-than-scarlett-johansson-time-magazine-">Elon Musk Less Influential To Artificial Intelligence Than Scarlett Johansson, Time Magazine Says: Billionaire Brushes Off Exclusion – &#8216;Magazines Do Not Establish Relevance, History Does&#8217;</a>
Why It's Important: Nearly half of this year's list includes companies that are publicly traded or part of publicly traded companies. This means investors can get exposure to what Time considers some of the most influential companies in the world.
Some of the companies are newer to the public market, which could mean that the 50+ companies that are not yet public could be among IPOs to watch for in the second half of 2025 and beyond.
Some of the most recognizable private companies on this year's list include OpenAI, Polymarket, Anthropic, Anduril, Beast Industries and SpaceX.
When seeking companies that can drive revenue growth and gain customer and consumer adoption, the most influential lists can be a valuable starting point for investors.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/03/44367926/mark-cuban-kevin-oleary-rejected-poppi-on-shark-tank-pepsi-just-paid-1-9-billion-to-acquire-company">Mark Cuban, Kevin O&#8217;Leary Rejected Poppi On Shark Tank, Pepsi Just Paid $1.9 Billion To Acquire Company</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

44 Public Companies Make Time's Most Influential List: Coinbase, UFC, Nintendo, Netflix And More Stocks Investors Can Buy

On Friday, SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) CEO Masayoshi Son said that he plans to position the company as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44327422/softbank-to-build-676-million-ai-data-center-in-japan-linked-to-openai-partnership">leading platform provider</a> in the artificial super intelligence (ASI) sector within the next decade, aiming to rival major tech firms like Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google.
What Happened: Speaking at SoftBank&#8217;s annual shareholder meeting, Son spoke about his ambition to establish SoftBank as a dominant player in the ASI space, reported Reuters.&nbsp;
&#8220;We want to become the organizer of the industry in the artificial super intelligence era,&#8221; Son said.
He likened the opportunity in ASI to the positions held by Microsoft, Amazon and Google, where a &#8220;winner takes all&#8221; dynamic prevails.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46132007/amazon-google-not-far-behind-but-dan-ives-says-microsoft-clearly-leading-in-these-segments-600-price-target-is-probably-conservative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon, Google Not Far Behind, But Dan Ives Says Microsoft ‘Clearly Leading' In These Segments — $600 Price Target Is ‘Probably' Conservative</a>
In line with this vision, the Japanese investment holding firm has made aggressive investments, including acquiring U.S. semiconductor designer Ampere for $6.5 billion and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/44589685/softbank-weighs-165-billion-loan-that-could-back-openais-40-billion-raise-report">underwriting up to $40 billion</a> in new investments for ChatGPT-parent OpenAI, the report added.
SoftBank's total investment in OpenAI has reached $32 billion since 2024. &#8220;I&#8217;m all in on OpenAI,&#8221; Son said while acknowledging that he regretted not investing in the AI company earlier.
Why It&#8217;s Important: SoftBank has returned to investing, having already scored big with early bets like Alibaba Group Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) but also failures like WeWork, the report added.
The company sold its 5% stake in Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) in 2019, missing out on the AI boom that later made the Jensen Huang-led company a global <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/06/46117402/jensen-huang-closes-in-on-top-10-richest-list-with-nvidia-stock-at-new-highs-heres-how-much-he-needs">leader in AI chips</a>.
SoftBank announced its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45389466/softbank-books-3-6-billion-profit-on-arm-bytedance-gains-while-ai-bets-face-trade-policy-hurdles">fourth-quarter earnings</a> last month. The company posted net sales of 1.94 trillion yen ($12.69 billion) for the quarter, an increase from 1.75 trillion yen in the same period last year. Sales from the SoftBank segment rose 10.2%, reaching 1.73 trillion yen ($11.33 billion).
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Sets Sights On Artificial Super Intelligence Domination With Bets On OpenAI And Ampere: 'I'm All In'

Indian multinational IT consulting company&nbsp;HCLTech and&nbsp;Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/06/n46069798/hcltech-and-amd-forge-strategic-alliance-to-develop-future-ready-solutions-across-ai-digital-and-c" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced a partnership</a> on Tuesday to accelerate worldwide enterprise digital transformation through advanced AI, digital, and cloud solutions.
By co-investing in innovation labs and training programs, HCLTech and AMD aim to provide enterprises with innovative tools that unlock new business opportunities and enhance operational efficiency.
The joint development centers established through this alliance will serve as testbeds for advanced technologies, conducting proof-of-concept tests to hasten the time-to-market for innovative enterprise tools.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44720974/amd-powers-google-clouds-new-ai-servers-promising-80-boost-in-speed" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMD Powers Google Cloud&#8217;s New AI Servers Promising 80% Boost In Speed</a>
Workforce training and reskilling initiatives will ensure enterprises are well-equipped to navigate the evolving digital landscape.
Dr.&nbsp;Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, said combining HCLTech&#8217;s expertise in digital transformation with EPYC, Instinct, and Ryzen PRO processors will help provide enterprises with customized, future-ready solutions that maximize the potential of AI, cloud computing, and advanced analytics.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Recent Developments</h2>
Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) rival AMD has faced challenges in the market, losing over 19% in the last 12 months as it grappled with intense competition from other semiconductor manufacturers, broader macro-economic uncertainties impacting technology spending, and the complexities of semiconductor policies enacted by the U.S. government, particularly regarding exports to certain regions.
Despite these challenges, AMD has continued to innovate. At Computex 2025,&nbsp;AMD showcased <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45542185/amd-unveils-powerful-new-ai-gaming-chips-at-computex-to-challenge-nvidia" rel="noreferrer noopener">its latest breakthroughs</a> in&nbsp;high-performance computing&nbsp;with the launch of Radeon RX 9060 XT and Radeon AI PRO R9700 graphics cards and Ryzen Threadripper 9000 Series processors.
Further highlighting AMD&#8217;s ambitions in AI infrastructure, AMD CTO Mark Papermaster <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46034864/this-could-be-amds-biggest-ai-win-mi400-chips-may-power-stargate" rel="noreferrer noopener">had hinted that</a> AMD MI400 chips could be part of the $500 billion Stargate Project.
The Stargate Project is a massive initiative, spearheaded by OpenAI in partnership with companies like SoftBank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) and Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), to build a network of state-of-the-art AI data centers in the United States, signifying a colossal investment in AI infrastructure.
Bank of America Securities (BofA) analyst&nbsp;Vivek Arya highlighted &#8220;multiple growth cylinders&#8221; for AMD, indicating diverse areas of potential growth, and noted continued market share gains in PC/server CPU against its long-standing competitor Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>).
Price Action: AMD stock is trading higher by 2.33% to $132.60 premarket at last check Tuesday.
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HCLTech, AMD Partner To Power Next-Gen Enterprise AI And Cloud Adoption

The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25%–4.50% for the sixth straight meeting, with Chair Jerome Powell signaling no near-term cuts despite <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/46011739/jerome-powell-led-fed-has-left-interest-rate-unchanged-what-does-it-mean-for-savings-mortgages-credit-cards-and-your-bank-account" rel="noreferrer noopener">mounting pressure from the White House.</a>
Meanwhile, global uncertainty ticked higher as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the U.S. remains open to negotiations with Iran, even as President Donald Trump weighs potential military action—<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46017426/trump-gives-iran-2-weeks-to-strike-a-deal-or-face-us-military-action" rel="noreferrer noopener">promising a decision "within the next two weeks."</a>
Amid these macro headlines, the consumer tech sector pressed on with notable developments.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/44873349/openai-and-softbanks-stargate-considers-major-uk-investment-to-fuel-ai-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI And SoftBank's Stargate Considers Major UK Investment To Fuel AI Growth</a>
Earnings Results
Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $3.49 per share, topping&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/06/46024923/accenture-new-bookings-fall-in-q3-but-it-raises-profit-outlook" rel="noreferrer noopener">the&nbsp;analyst consensus estimate of $3.31</a>.
Accenture announced a&nbsp;strategic overhaul of its growth model, effective September 1, 2025, with a sharpened focus on AI.
Technology
Nvidia&nbsp;Corporation&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)&nbsp;venture capital arm,&nbsp;NVentures, has joined a $650 million funding round for&nbsp;TerraPower, a nuclear energy company founded by&nbsp;Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)&nbsp;co-founder&nbsp;Bill Gates.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly looking to harness the power of generative artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of the&nbsp;custom chips that power&nbsp;its devices, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46010207/apple-hardware-executive-says-iphone-maker-plans-to-use-ai-for-speeding-up-custom-chip-design-high-potential-in-getting-more-design-work-in-less-time" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to senior executive&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46010207/apple-hardware-executive-says-iphone-maker-plans-to-use-ai-for-speeding-up-custom-chip-design-high-potential-in-getting-more-design-work-in-less-time" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johny Srouji</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46010207/apple-hardware-executive-says-iphone-maker-plans-to-use-ai-for-speeding-up-custom-chip-design-high-potential-in-getting-more-design-work-in-less-time" rel="noreferrer noopener">.</a>
Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>) announced a&nbsp;$60 billion plan&nbsp;to expand U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing, marking what the company says is the largest investment in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45998624/texas-instruments-announces-60-billion-us-semiconductor-manufacturing-boost" rel="noreferrer noopener">foundational chip production in the nation's history.</a>
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>)&nbsp;cloud unit is set to launch its second data center in South Korea to capitalize <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46032308/alibaba-expands-ai-cloud-footprint-in-south-korea-with-new-data-hub-launching-in-june" rel="noreferrer noopener">on the generative AI frenzy.</a>
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)&nbsp;is reportedly in discussions to hire&nbsp;Nat Friedman, former CEO of&nbsp;GitHub, to support <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46010604/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-reportedly-looking-to-hire-former-github-ceo-nat-friedman-and-investor-daniel-gross-as-part-of-aggressive-ai-expansion-strategy" rel="noreferrer noopener">its artificial intelligence efforts</a>.
The&nbsp;Trump Organization&nbsp;is&nbsp;entering the wireless industry&nbsp;with plans to launch a smartphone called the &#8220;T-1 Phone,&#8221; priced at $499 and promoted as being manufactured in the U.S.—a promise experts say may <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45990957/trump-mobile-plans-to-launch-499-t-1-phone-made-in-the-usa-but-expert-says-you-dont-have-the-employees-that-can-do-it" rel="noreferrer noopener">not hold up under scrutiny.</a>
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Softbank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>)&nbsp;founder&nbsp;Masayoshi Son is spearheading an alliance with&nbsp;Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), proposing a $1 trillion industrial complex in Arizona.
OpenAI chief executive&nbsp;Sam Altman says he &#8220;didn&#8217;t think Elon was going to abuse his power in the government to unfairly compete&#8221; but now believes he was wrong after Tesla&#8217;s founder allegedly tried to derail OpenAI&#8217;s $500 billion <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46023822/sam-altman-says-he-didnt-think-elon-musk-would-abuse-government-power-tesla-ceo-hits-back-with-scam-altman-jibe" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8220;Stargate&#8221; data-center deal.</a>
Automobiles
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)&nbsp;is reportedly working on a 6-seater <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46020870/elon-musks-tesla-to-expand-model-y-lineup-with-new-6-seater-version-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">variant of the Model Y crossover SUV.</a>
Tesla will shut down production at the Texas Gigafactory, which manufactures the Cybertruck and the Model Y, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45989148/tesla-will-shut-down-production-at-the-texas-gigafactory-over-the-4th-of-july-weekend" rel="noreferrer noopener">over the Independence Day weekend.</a>
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) has recalled more than 197,000 vehicles in the latest recall over an issue affecting the backseat occupants, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46012477/ford-recalls-over-197000-vehicles-for-backseat-issue-that-could-trap-occupants-in-emergency-situations" rel="noreferrer noopener">where they may remain locked inside the vehicle.</a>
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GRRR

Consumer Tech News (June 16-June 20): Fed Holds Rates, Trump Eyes Iran Moves, Apple Taps AI, Accenture Shifts Strategy

SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) founder Masayoshi Son is spearheading an alliance with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), proposing a $1 trillion industrial complex in Arizona.
 Son intends to double down on the robotics and artificial intelligence infrastructure with this project.
What Happened: The proposed mega project aims to position the US as a global hub of robotics and hardware manufacturing, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/softbanks-son-pitches-1-trillion-us-ai-hub-tsmc-trump-team-bloomberg-news-2025-06-20/">a</a> Bloomberg report.
This project is separate from the Stargate project, a joint venture led by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>).
The company&#8217;s latest Arizona plan would go beyond data centers and focus on AI-enabled manufacturing and robotics, expanding its footprint from digital infrastructure to physical AI deployment.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/44873349/openai-and-softbanks-stargate-considers-major-uk-investment-to-fuel-ai-growth">OpenAI And SoftBank&#8217;s Stargate Considers Major UK Investment To Fuel AI Growth</a>
Why It Matters: Softbank is determined to have the Taiwanese company on board for the project, as per Bloomberg's report.
SoftBank seeks to leverage the Trump administration's interest in developing domestic high-tech manufacturing with federal and state tax incentives to encourage investment in the proposed Arizona industrial complex.
With the tussle between the U.S.–China tech intensifying and the semiconductor supply chain being erratic in the current tariff war, Son's $1 trillion bet could be a game-changer for the US. But convincing the investors and policymakers and the lack of interest indicated by the TSMC, could be a hindrance.   
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Photo: Michael Vi/Shutterstock

SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Proposes $1 Trillion Robotics And AI Hub In Arizona With TSMC

OpenAI has secured a $200 million defense contract to develop artificial intelligence capabilities for national security applications, according to contracts released by the Department of Defense on Monday.
What Happened: The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office awarded the fixed-amount prototype agreement for &#8220;frontier AI capabilities to address critical national security challenges in both warfighting and enterprise domains,&#8221; the Pentagon stated. Work will be performed primarily in the National Capital Region through July 2026.
The contract represents OpenAI&#8217;s largest known government deal as the company simultaneously pursues a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>). Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Public Investment Fund and India&#8217;s Reliance Industries could each contribute <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45898547/openai-looks-to-raise-40-billion-from-global-investors-including-saudi-arabias-pif-indias-reliance-industries-to-accelerate-ai-models-and-stargate-report">several hundred million dollars to the financing</a>.
OpenAI&#8217;s revenue growth has accelerated dramatically, reaching a $10 billion annualized run rate in June, nearly doubling from $5.5 billion at 2024&#8217;s end, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45852700/openai-surges-past-10-billion-in-annualized-revenue-amid-record-chatgpt-use-leaves-rivals-like-amazon-backed-anthropic-behind">according to company statements</a>. The figure excludes Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) licensing revenue and one-time deals.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/treasuries/25/06/45960637/treasury-yields-near-5-after-soft-foreign-demand-a-red-flag-for-stocks">Treasury Yields Near 5% After Soft Foreign Demand: A Red Flag For Stocks?</a>
Why It Matters: ChatGPT usage has surged to 500 million weekly active users as of March, driving the revenue expansion. The company targets $12.7 billion in 2025 revenue after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45852700/openai-surges-past-10-billion-in-annualized-revenue-amid-record-chatgpt-use-leaves-rivals-like-amazon-backed-anthropic-behind">posting a $5 billion loss in 2024</a>.
The defense contract coincides with OpenAI&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/05/45665394/openais-300-billion-public-benefit-shift-faces-scrutiny-as-delaware-ag-moves-to-hire-investment-bank-for-independent-valuation-report">complex $300 billion corporate restructuring</a> into a public-benefit corporation. Delaware&#8217;s attorney general is independently valuing the nonprofit parent&#8217;s equity stake, while Microsoft disputes its ownership percentage in the new structure.
OpenAI faces a year-end deadline to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/05/45665394/openais-300-billion-public-benefit-shift-faces-scrutiny-as-delaware-ag-moves-to-hire-investment-bank-for-independent-valuation-report">complete the restructuring or risk losing</a> up to $20 billion from SoftBank. The funding supports AI model development and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44188361/nvidia-powers-openai-and-oracles-100-billion-stargate-first-ai-data-center-set-to-launch-in-texas">the $100 billion Stargate infrastructure project</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44188361/nvidia-powers-openai-and-oracles-100-billion-stargate-first-ai-data-center-set-to-launch-in-texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">,</a> featuring Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) GB200 chips, at facilities in Texas.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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OpenAI Wins $200 Million US Defense Contract For AI Warfare Capabilities As The Company Looks To Raise $40 Billion

Japan&#8217;s SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) is reportedly looking to raise $4.9 billion via a sizable overnight stake sale.
What Happened: On Tuesday, it was revealed that the Japanese investment holding company would be raising these funds via an unregistered overnight block sale of its stake in T Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>), according to a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-16/softbank-seeks-to-raise-4-9-billion-in-t-mobile-share-sale-mbzn3ujs">report</a> by Bloomberg News, which saw the terms of the deal.
SoftBank is offering 21.5 million shares in the telecom giant at a price range of $224 to $228 per share, representing a 3% discount to T-Mobile&#8217;s closing price on Monday, at $230.99.
The deal, when completed, is set to be the largest U.S. equity block sale since Toronto-Dominion Bank's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TD#NYSE">TD</a>) $13.1 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/ma/25/01/42921113/deal-dispatch-td-bank-charles-schwab-eyenovia-smart-share-hit-auction-block">divestiture of its stake</a> in Charles Schwab Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>) in February. It also adds to the growing wave of equity offerings by new and existing shares, reaching $91.4 billion so far in 2025, up from $75.9 billion last year.
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As of March 31, 2025, SoftBank held 85.4 million T-Mobile shares, equivalent to a 7.52% stake, which was originally acquired as part of Sprint Corp.&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/19/12/14912449/what-the-sprint-t-mobile-merger-trial-means-for-investors">$26.5 billion merger</a> with T-Mobile in 2020. SoftBank had acquired a majority stake in T-Mobile back in 2013.
Following the proposed transaction, SoftBank&#8217;s stake will shrink by 1.9 percentage points, leaving it with a roughly 5.6% stake in the company. 
The transaction is being managed by Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and neither SoftBank nor T-Mobile has immediately responded to Benzinga&#8217;s request for a comment.
Why It Matters: This move might prompt T-Mobile&#8217;s majority stakeholder, Deutsche Telekom AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DTEGY#OTC">DTEGY</a>), to vie for greater control of the company, something that it&#8217;s been pursuing for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/21/05/21199432/deutsche-telekom-eyeing-majority-stake-in-t-mobile-by-acquiring-softbanks-share-bloomberg">past several years</a>. 
SoftBank continues to pursue investment opportunities in the U.S., having led a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43374528/softbank-may-lead-openais-40-billion-funding-round-at-a-300-billion-valuation-despite-deepseek-disruption-report">$40 billion investment round</a> in OpenAI early this year.
The company&#8217;s CEO, Masayoshi Son, had earlier committed to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42505666/softbanks-masayoshi-son-to-reportedly-announce-100b-us-investment-during-meeting-with-trump">investing $100 billion</a> in the United States during a meeting with the then President-Elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago late last year.
Price Action: T-Mobile shares were up 1.31% on Monday, ending the day at $230.99, but are down 3.89% after hours following news of the stake sale.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="143" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/16220626/Screenshot-2025-06-17-at-7.36.11-AM-1024x143.png" alt="" class="wp-image-951496" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/16220626/Screenshot-2025-06-17-at-7.36.11-AM-1024x143.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/16220626/Screenshot-2025-06-17-at-7.36.11-AM-300x42.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/16220626/Screenshot-2025-06-17-at-7.36.11-AM-768x108.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/16220626/Screenshot-2025-06-17-at-7.36.11-AM.png 1528w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
The company&#8217;s shares show strong Momentum, and rank well on Quality according to Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, but only have a favorable price trend in the long term. See <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a> for deeper insights into the stock, the company, its peers, and competitors.
Photo Courtesy: Koshiro K on Shutterstock.com
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