Masayoshi Son

Professions :

Born :

August 11, 1957

I don't care about the sort of things that will bring in chump change over the next two or three years. I think I'm better than others at sniffing out things that will bear fruit in 10 or 20 years while they're still at the seed stage, and I'm more willing to take the risks that entails.

two years thinking

I haven't invented anything earth-shattering. If I could be said to have one noteworthy ability compared with the average person, it's that I have a keen interest in reading the direction and timing of paradigm shifts.

reading earth average

Having made up my mind, I went to see Steve [Jobs]. I brought a hand-drawn sketch with me, and I said, "Please make something like this." He said, "Don't show me such an ugly design sketch." But he also said, "You've got the right idea. I totally agree that the time has come when we can make the ultimate mobile machine."

jobs hands ideas

Jack's [Ma Yun ] theory is that whoever controls data controls th... by Masayoshi Son

Jack's [Ma Yun ] theory is that whoever controls data controls the world.

data theory world

I thought I might spend the rest of my time on golf. But thinking about it now, I'm happy playing whenever I have some downtime in my busy schedule, and even if I had all the time I wanted to play, my score probably wouldn't be very good.

play golf thinking

I would say that hardware is the bone of the head, the skull. The semiconductor is the brain within the head. The software is the wisdom and data is the knowledge.

data skulls brain

Whatever the country, whatever the culture, whatever the time, when you become a big enough organization, you start to collapse and slow down.

organization country culture

I'd met Simon [Segars] for the first time in London. He struck me as a quiet, natural-born engineer and an orthodox successor [to East]. He has a home in Silicon Valley, and he said it's just a few minutes' drive away from mine.

london home firsts

If something happened, like engineers starting to quit, things wo... by Masayoshi Son

If something happened, like engineers starting to quit, things would go downhill fast.

quitting starting engineers

But a big paradigm shift is staring us in the face. If I left things to someone else despite having my own thoughts on it, I wouldn't be true to myself.

being-true bigs faces

I'm a man, and I think every man wants to be No. 1. by Masayoshi Son

I'm a man, and I think every man wants to be No. 1.

want men thinking

I think I would have kept in contact with venture capital investors and entrepreneurs. I'm sure staying involved as something like a coach would be fun. If I handed over the reins to a successor, I wouldn't stick around [to pull strings] like a retired emperor.

entrepreneur fun thinking

[Simon Segars ] came by a few times.I told him, "If you understand the future of the internet of things that much, then you should add more engineers and go on the offensive." Simon had explained to analysts and others that he intended to do that sort of forward-looking investment, but he said it's tough for a listed company considering its share price falls if profits drop.

goes-on add fall

Our proposal had more than just money. We would increase their staff and keep their headquarters, their brand and their management in place. We made them a comprehensive offer they couldn't refuse. Shareholders simply receive cash, but with the staff and management, we had to show that we could share the same vision. Employees would probably resent us if money were all [we offered].

cash vision management

When I look at the growth of U.S. and Chinese companies, I feel s... by Masayoshi Son

When I look at the growth of U.S. and Chinese companies, I feel strongly it's not good enough.

The conductor doesn't play anything but actually he plays everyth... by Masayoshi Son

The conductor doesn't play anything but actually he plays everything.

I think they're too cheap. by Masayoshi Son

I think they're too cheap.

This is [ a ] fantastic opportunity, because of the leadership, because of the location, because of the people in the kingdom, we can make it happen.

I couldn't have decided such a thing before this new President. by Masayoshi Son

I couldn't have decided such a thing before this new President.

I have spent 97 percent of my time on managing the telecoms business and only 3 percent on investing.

Bob Iger

Bob Wright

Bruce Karatz

Bruce Kovner

Brian Roberts

Brandon Wade