SoftBank Seeks $40 Billion to Double Down on OpenAI Stake

In a move that signals an unprecedented financial commitment to a single company, SoftBank Group is in talks to secure a $40 billion loan, according to sources familiar with the matter. The capital, reported in early March 2026, is primarily intended to fund a further expansion of the Japanese conglomerate's investment in OpenAI. This would be the largest dollar-denominated borrowing in SoftBank's history.

The proposed one-year bridge loan, with JPMorgan Chase among the likely underwriters, would allow SoftBank to move quickly. It follows a $22.5 billion investment made just last December, bringing SoftBank's total commitment to OpenAI to $64.6 billion for an approximate 11% stake. The loan is meant to fund a new $30 billion commitment as part of OpenAI's latest funding round, which values the AI firm at about $730 billion.

This financial push is driven by OpenAI's staggering capital needs, including its central role in the $500 billion Stargate Project to build AI data centers across the United States. SoftBank's chairman, Masayoshi Son, chairs that initiative. To free up capital, SoftBank has already sold major holdings in Nvidia and T-Mobile.

The bet is already paying off on paper: gains from OpenAI contributed to a sharp turnaround in SoftBank's quarterly profit. However, the concentration of risk has drawn scrutiny. S&P Global recently revised SoftBank's credit outlook to negative, citing concerns over liquidity. The company's financial health is now deeply intertwined with OpenAI's ability to maintain its lead in a fiercely competitive market, where rivals like Google's Gemini are gaining ground. For Son, this loan is not just another investment; it's a defining wager on which company will power the future of artificial intelligence.

Source: Webpronews