Japanese semiconductor giant Kioxia has produced hundreds of millionaires among its staff through a 2018 stock options program. The company currently holds a market capitalization of 50 trillion yen, making it Japan’s most valuable firm. A consortium led by Bain Capital granted these options to approximately 600 employees, including non-executives, during its initial acquisition.
The company's stock price surged from a December 2024 IPO price of 1,455 yen to a peak of 112,700 yen this year. This growth values the 7 million employee-held shares at approximately 790 billion yen. Individual participants hold an average unrealized gain of over 1 billion yen, or roughly $6.2 million, before taxes. This massive wealth generation stems from the global AI-driven boom in the semiconductor industry.