Masayoshi Son and Greg Hayes | Careers, Leadership and How They Compare
Masayoshi Son and Greg Hayes are two powerful business leaders from very different worlds. Son built SoftBank into a global technology investor, while Hayes spent decades running industrial giants. This guide covers their backgrounds, careers, family, wealth and leadership styles, and explains how the two compare.
Profile Bio
| Detail | Masayoshi Son | Greg Hayes |
| Full name | Masayoshi Son (born Yasumoto) | Gregory J. Hayes |
| Born | August 11, 1957 | Around 1960 (exact date not published) |
| Age | 69 | Mid-60s (reported) |
| Birthplace | Tosu, Saga, Japan | Not publicly confirmed |
| Nationality | Japanese (naturalized) | American |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed | Not publicly confirmed |
| Education | Economics, UC Berkeley | Purdue University |
| Profession | Founder and CEO, SoftBank Group | Corporate executive and board director |
| Known for | Alibaba, Arm, Vision Fund, Stargate | Leading UTC and creating RTX |
| Family | Wife Masami Ohno, two daughters | Not public |
| Net worth | About $64B–$72B (volatile) | Roughly $118M–$151M (tracker estimates) |
| Social media | X: @masason | No verified accounts found |
Masayoshi Son and Greg Hayes: Are They Connected?
There is no verified family tie, shared company or joint business between the two men. People often search their names together because both led enormous organizations and made major strategic decisions. The real link is comparative: two leaders who reached the top by very different routes, in technology investing and in aerospace and defense.
Masayoshi Son: Age and Early Life
Son was born on August 11, 1957, in Tosu, Japan, which makes him 69. He is a third-generation Zainichi Korean and a naturalized Japanese citizen. His family was not wealthy. At 16 he moved to California, finished high school quickly, and later studied economics at the University of California, Berkeley.
Greg Hayes: Background and Education
Gregory J. Hayes studied at Purdue University and built his career in finance. He joined United Technologies in 1999 after its combination with Sundstrand, where he had worked. Hayes keeps his personal life private, so his exact birthdate is not widely published. He is generally reported to be in his mid-60s.
Family Details
Son is married to Masami Ohno, whom he met while studying in the United States, and they have two daughters. His younger brother, Taizo Son, is an entrepreneur who founded GungHo Online Entertainment. Hayes does not share family details publicly, and no reliable source covers his spouse, children or siblings, so none are listed here.
Height and Appearance
Neither man publishes his height, and no trustworthy source confirms a figure for either. Many celebrity websites list numbers without citing anything, so treat those with caution. Both are known publicly as conventional business executives, usually seen at investor events, earnings calls, shareholder meetings and major announcements rather than in lifestyle coverage.
Masayoshi Son’s Career at SoftBank
Son founded SoftBank in 1981 at age 24, starting with software distribution. The company grew into internet services, telecom and global investing. His most famous bet was a $20 million stake in Alibaba in 2000. He also bought Arm in 2016 and launched the Vision Fund. WeWork, however, became one of his costliest losses.
Son’s AI Strategy
Artificial intelligence now drives Son’s plans. In January 2025 he stood alongside President Trump, Sam Altman and Larry Ellison to announce the Stargate Project, with Son as chairman. The venture targets up to $500 billion in US AI infrastructure over four years. SoftBank has also deepened its investment in OpenAI, tying Arm, chips and data centers together.
Greg Hayes at UTC and RTX
Hayes became CEO of United Technologies in 2014 and chairman in 2016. He reshaped the company through the Sikorsky sale, the Rockwell Collins purchase and the spin-offs of Carrier and Otis. In April 2020 he led the merger of UTC’s aerospace units with Raytheon, creating RTX, and served as its CEO until May 2024.
What Greg Hayes Does Now
Christopher Calio succeeded Hayes as RTX CEO in May 2024. Hayes stayed on as executive chairman, then left the board on April 30, 2025, and served as a special advisor through January 2, 2026. In May 2026, Phillips 66 named him lead independent director. He also sits on Becton Dickinson’s board and chairs NAF.
Leadership Styles Compared
Son is a founder and major shareholder who makes concentrated bets on technologies he believes will define the future. Hayes is a professional executive who rose through finance and made his mark through disciplined portfolio moves and one large merger. Neither approach is better. Each fits the kind of company the leader ran.
Net Worth
Son’s wealth swings with SoftBank’s share price. Estimates in mid-2026 ranged from about $64 billion to $72 billion, after a reported peak near $100 billion in June. No authoritative ranking tracks Hayes. Trackers using SEC share filings suggest roughly $118 million to $151 million, but those are rough and exclude other assets.
Social Media Presence
Son has long posted on X as @masason, mostly in Japanese, sharing company news and his views on technology. Check the account directly for current follower numbers. No verified personal social media accounts for Hayes turned up, so his activity is best followed through RTX and Phillips 66 announcements, regulatory filings and interviews.
Fun Facts
Son’s first business success came at Berkeley through a deal with Sharp. His Tokyo home is reportedly a $50 million mansion with a weather-simulating golf range. Hayes bought about $1 million of Phillips 66 shares in August 2025, and he serves on the board of the New England Air Museum.
Final Thoughts
Masayoshi Son and Greg Hayes show two ways to reach the top: building and betting, or earning trust inside an institution and reshaping it. Roles and wealth figures change quickly, so verify details against company filings before citing them.
Must Read: Bruce Willis Disease: A Plain-English Look at Frontotemporal Dementia
FAQs
Are Masayoshi Son and Greg Hayes related?
No. There is no verified family relationship between them. They come from different countries, industries and career paths.
Did they ever work together?
No public record shows a joint company or partnership. Son is tied to SoftBank, while Hayes spent his career at United Technologies and RTX.
Is Greg Hayes still the CEO of RTX?
No. Christopher Calio took over as CEO in May 2024. Hayes left the RTX board in April 2025 and now serves on other company boards.
How old is Masayoshi Son?
Son was born on August 11, 1957, so he is 69. He founded SoftBank in 1981 and still leads it.
Who has the higher net worth?
Son, by a wide margin. His fortune is estimated in the tens of billions and moves with SoftBank’s share price. Estimates for Hayes are far smaller and less reliable.
