SoftBank Completes $30 Billion OpenAI Investment with Final $10 Billion Tranche

SoftBank Group has finalized its third $10 billion investment tranche into OpenAI via Vision Fund 2, completing its promised $30 billion total backing. Upon completion of this transaction, SoftBank is expected to hold approximately a 13% stake in the AI company. This capital injection supplies OpenAI with substantial runway to fuel its compute-heavy model development and infrastructure expansion. For SoftBank, it cements a pivotal position in the generative AI space, though it also deepens the firm's reliance on high-yield debt financing and single-sector growth. To fund the investment, SoftBank executed what Reuters described as the world's largest corporate high-yield bond issuance to date. Concurrently, reports indicate OpenAI is already exploring new financing rounds seeking at least $30 billion as its corporate valuation accelerates.