{
  "id": 12309677,
  "title": "Adam Neumann says a car ride with Masayoshi Son started WeWork's $47 billion collapse",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/adam-neumann-says-a-car-ride-with-masayoshi-son-started-weworks-47",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-06T04:45:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/wework-co-founder-adam-neumann-says-one-car-ride-with-softbanks-masayoshi-son-set-off-weworks-47-billion-collapse-the-4-2-billion-deal-signed-on-an-ipad-the-walk-back-to-office-when-his-ego-took-over/articleshow/134723235.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Adam Neumann, co-founder of WeWork, claims a car ride with SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son in late 2016 marked the beginning of the company's downfall. The 12-minute conversation in Son's car led to a $4.2 billion investment offer signed on an iPad. This deal, Neumann says, changed his perspective on WeWork. He walked 36 blocks back to the company's headquarters and forgot the original mission by the time he reached his destination. The board had initially agreed for Neumann to raise $300 million to $400 million, slow growth, turn a profit and go public. However, SoftBank's involvement turned WeWork into a $47 billion company that faced numerous losses, including a $1.9 billion net loss in 2018. Neumann criticized the business model for signing long-term leases for short-term commitments. Despite the company's failure, Neumann has found value in the experience, stating he would not change anything even though he has no regrets.",
  "summary": "WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann says the collapse of his $47 billion company began during a 30-minute car ride with SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son in 2016. Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Neumann said Son's $4.2 billion investment offer fed his ego and made it \"about the money.\" He also discussed WeWork's failed IPO, Chapter 11 bankruptcy and his new real estate startup, Flow.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}