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{{Short description|Japanese billionaire and entrepreneur}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Yusaku Maezawa
| image = Yusaku Maezawa (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Maezawa onboard the International Space Station, 11 Decemberin 2021
| native_name = 前澤 友作
| native_name_lang = ja
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1975|11|22}}
| birth_place = [[Kamagaya]], Japan
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place =
| education =
| occupation = BusinessmanEntrepreneur, art collector
| years_active = 1998–present
| employer =
| organization = Start Today, Zozotown, ZOZO
| awards =
| website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
| spouse = Divorced
| children = 13<ref name="forbes1Paton 2020"/>
{{Infobox astronaut
| embed=yes
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| selection =
| space_time = 11 days, 19 hours, 34 minutes
| missions = [[Soyuz MS-20]], [[dearMoon project]]
| insignia = [[File:DearMoon Project insignia.svg|50px]]
}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Yusaku Maezawa'''|前澤 友作|Maezawa Yūsaku|extra=born 22 November 1975}} is a Japanese [[billionaire]] entrepreneur and art collector. He founded Start Today in 1998 and launched the online fashion retail website Zozotown in 2004, now Japan's largest. Most recently,
Maezawa introduced a custom-fit apparel brand ZOZOZozo and at-home measurement system, the ZOZOSUITZozosuit, in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=Japanese art enthusiast Yusaku Maezawa in $98m art spree|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36273197|work=BBC News|date=12 May 2016|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=31 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831211852/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36273197|url-status=live}}</ref> As of December 2021, he iswas estimated by ''[[Forbes]]'' to have a net worth of $2.0 billion.<ref name="forbes1">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/yusaku-maezawa/ |title=Forbes profile: Yusaku Maezawa |work=Forbes.com |access-date=16 July 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923013021/https://www.forbes.com/profile/yusaku-maezawa/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Early life==
Maezawa began attending [[Waseda University Junior and Senior High School|Waseda Jitsugyo High School]], Tokyo, in 1991, where he started ana [[hardcore indiepunk]] band with his classmates called {{ill|Switch Style|ja}}, in which he was the drummer.<ref name="adelstein1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/13/meet-yusaku-maezawa-the-billionaire-entrepreneur-rocking-the-art-world.html|title=Meet Yusaku Maezawa, The Billionaire Entrepreneur Rocking The Art World|last=Adelstein|first=Mari Yamamoto{{!}}Jake|date=13 May 2016|website=The Daily Beast|access-date=17 May 2016|archive-date=16 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516212236/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/13/meet-yusaku-maezawa-the-billionaire-entrepreneur-rocking-the-art-world.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=tweet>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46779139 Yusaku Maezawa: Japanese billionaire tweets most retweeted tweet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130121814/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46779139 |date=30 January 2020 }}, BBC, 7 Jan 2019</ref> The band released their first EP in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1452437-Switch-Style|title=Switch Style|website=Discogs|access-date=17 May 2016|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328165647/https://www.discogs.com/artist/1452437-Switch-Style|url-status=live}}</ref> After graduating from high school, he decided not to go to college; instead he moved to the US with a girlfriend, where he started collecting CDs and records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://president.jp/articles/-/12232?page=2|title=「競争嫌い」で年商1000億円【1】 －対談：スタートトゥデイ社長 前澤友作×田原総一朗 新しい日本のチカラ：PRESIDENT Online – プレジデント|website=PRESIDENT Online – PRESIDENT|date=10 April 2014|language=ja-JP|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=10 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610142903/http://president.jp/articles/-/12232?page=2|url-status=live}}</ref> When he returned to Japan in 1995, his album collection became the basis for his first company, which sold imported albums and CDs through the mail.<ref name="adelstein1"/>
==Business==
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In 1998, Maezawa used the basis of the mail-order album business to launch the company Start Today.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.artnet.com/market/yusaku-maezawa-foundation-contemporary-art-award-526112|title=Yusaku Maezawa 2016 Contemporary Art Award|date=24 June 2016|work=artnet News|access-date=18 September 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=18 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918160458/https://news.artnet.com/market/yusaku-maezawa-foundation-contemporary-art-award-526112|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, his band signed with the label [[BMG Japan]]. By 2000, Start Today had moved to an online platform, had begun selling clothing, and had become a public company. In 2001, Maezawa declared a hiatus on his music career. Start Today opened the retail clothing website Zozotown in 2004, and six years later, Start Today became a publicly traded company, listed on the "Mothers" Index of the [[Tokyo Stock Exchange]]. By 2012, Start Today was listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/13/meet-yusaku-maezawa-the-billionaire-entrepreneur-rocking-the-art-world.html|title=Meet Yusaku Maezawa, The Billionaire Entrepreneur Rocking The Art World|last=Adelstein|first=Mari Yamamoto{{!}}Jake|date=13 May 2016|website=The Daily Beast|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=17 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517105212/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/13/meet-yusaku-maezawa-the-billionaire-entrepreneur-rocking-the-art-world.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2018, Maezawa introduced ZOZOZozo, a custom-fit clothing brand and the ZOZOSUIT,Zozosuit an at-home measurement system, in over 72 countries and territories.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-retail-zozotown/japans-zozo-using-measurement-taking-bodysuit-expands-bespoke-service-idUSKBN1JT0ED|title=Japan's Zozo, using measurement-taking bodysuit, expands bespoke service|last=Nussey|first=Sam{{!}}Jake|date=2 July 2018|website=Reuters|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=9 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509153230/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-retail-zozotown/japans-zozo-using-measurement-taking-bodysuit-expands-bespoke-service-idUSKBN1JT0ED|url-status=live}}</ref>
Maezawa resigned from ZOZOZozo in September 2019 after selling a stake of 50.1% in the company to [[SoftBank]] for {{USD|3.7 billion}} (400 billion Yen). He also sold 30% of his personal stake in ZoZo to [[Yahoo Japan]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49671265|title=Billionaire to sell Zozo stake to Yahoo Japan|work=BBC News|date=12 September 2019|access-date=17 September 2019|archive-date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116172407/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49671265|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Contemporary Art Foundation==
Maezawa is the founder of the Tokyo-based Contemporary Art Foundation, which he started in 2012 with a goal of "supporting young artists as a pillar of the next generation of contemporary art."<ref name="gendai-art1">{{cite web|url=http://gendai-art.org/en/|title=Contemporary Art Foundation (Public Interest Corporation)|website=Contemporary Art Foundation|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723081143/http://gendai-art.org/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Contemporary Art Foundation currently hosts collection shows twice a year. In May 2016, Maezawa attracted significant media attention with a record purchase price at auction of $57.3 million for an [[Untitled (Devil)|''Untitled'']] (1982) artwork of a devil by [[Jean-Michel Basquiat]], and broke a record again in May 2017 with a $110.5 million auction for another ''[[Untitled (1982 Basquiat skull painting)|Untitled]]'' (1982) of a skull by the same artist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2017/05/19/meet-the-japanese-e-commerce-billionaire-who-just-spent-110-5-million-on-a-basquiat-painting/|title=Meet The Japanese E-Commerce Billionaire Who Just Spent $110.5 Million On A Basquiat Painting|first=Michela|last=Tindera|website=Forbes|date=19 May 2017 |access-date=20 May 2017|archive-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110120133/https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2017/05/19/meet-the-japanese-e-commerce-billionaire-who-just-spent-110-5-million-on-a-basquiat-painting/|url-status=live}}</ref> At the same 2016 auction, Maezawa bought pieces by [[Bruce Nauman]], [[Alexander Calder]], [[Richard Prince]], and [[Jeff Koons]], spending a total of $98 million over two days.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/12/business/collector-maezawa-drops-98-million-art-two-days/|title=Collector Maezawa drops $98 million on art in two days|last=Kazakina|first=Katya|date=12 May 2016|newspaper=The Japan Times Online|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107230452/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/12/business/collector-maezawa-drops-98-million-art-two-days/|url-status=live}}</ref> Maezawa plans to open a contemporary art museum in [[Chiba (city)|Chiba]], which will house his collection.<ref name="gendai-art1" /> In 2022, Maezawa sold an untitled Basquiat Painting for $85 Million.<ref name="Porterfield 2022">{{cite web |last=Porterfield |first=Carlie |title=Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa Sells Basquiat Painting For $85 Million As Market For Artist's Work Heats Up |website=Forbes |date=2022-05-18 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/05/18/billionaire-yusaku-maezawa-sells-basquiat-painting-for-85-million-as-market-for-artists-work-heats-up/ |access-date=2023-07-24}}</ref>
==Spaceflights==
===AnnouncedProposed circumlunarCircumlunar flightFlight===
{{update section|date=May 2023}}
{{main|dearMoon project}}
On 17 September 2018, it was announced that Maezawa willwas beto become the first [[Commercial astronaut|commercial passenger]] to doperform a [[circumlunar trajectory|flyby]] aroundof the [[Moon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu7WJD8vpAQ|title=First Private Passenger on Lunar Starship Mission|date=18 September 2018 |via=www.youtube.com|access-date=18 September 2018|archive-date=11 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211143203/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu7WJD8vpAQ|url-status=live}}</ref> He willwas to fly on board a [[SpaceX Starship]], which has been in development since 2017. The flight iswas slated to take place no earlier than 2023 with a duration of nearlyaround six days. HeMaezawa originally planned to take six to eight artists with him as a part of an art project he has created entitled [[DearMoon project|#dearMoon]].<ref name='DearMoon'>[https://dearmoon.earth/ Dear Moon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112172933/https://dearmoon.earth/ |date=12 January 2020 }}. Accessed: 17 September 2018.</ref> However, inIn March of 2021, Maezawathe changedrequirements thefor requirementregistration were changed to allow members of the general public (instead of just artists) to apply for the flight.<ref name="2021-03-03_BBC">[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-maezawa-moon/maezawa-wants-you-japan-billionaire-seeks-crew-for-moon-trip-idUSKCN2AU2QB Maezawa wants you: Japan billionaire seeks 'crew' for moon trip] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304041316/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-maezawa-moon/maezawa-wants-you-japan-billionaire-seeks-crew-for-moon-trip-idUSKCN2AU2QB |date=4 March 2021 }}, Sam Nussey, [[BBC]], 2021-03-03</ref> Finally, in December 2022, Maezawa announced that he had chosen his crew members, including DJ [[Steve Aoki]] and [[T.O.P]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63912668 | title=SpaceX moon flight to include DJ, YouTuber and K-pop rapper | date=9 December 2022 | publisher=BBC News |access-date=December 9, 2022 }}</ref> After the flight was postponed indefinitely following broader Starship program delays in 2023, the project was fully cancelled on 1 June 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/dearmoonproject/status/1796759847817625933 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}</ref>
===ISS mission===
On 13 May 2021, Maezawa announced he would be joining [[Space Adventures]] on a trip to the [[International Space Station]] in December 2021, via thea [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]] spacecraft. He spent 12 days on the orbital station with his assistant, [[Yozo Hirano]], where he completed the top 100 things demanded by public, as well as recorded highlights in preparation for the SpaceX lunar flight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/valeriestimac/2021/05/13/japanese-billionaire-yusaku-maezawa-announces-new-space-tourism-flight-plan-for-late-2021/|title=Japanese Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa Is Heading To The International Space Station In December|first=Valerie|last=Stimac|website=Forbes|access-date=14 May 2021|archive-date=14 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514125825/https://www.forbes.com/sites/valeriestimac/2021/05/13/japanese-billionaire-yusaku-maezawa-announces-new-space-tourism-flight-plan-for-late-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/13/national/billionaire-maezawa-to-travel-to-iss-in-december/|title=Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to travel to ISS in December|date=13 May 2021|website=The Japan Times|access-date=14 May 2021|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523185342/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/13/national/billionaire-maezawa-to-travel-to-iss-in-december/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wanted! 100 Things You Want MZ To Do in Space!|url=https://www.yusakumaezawa.com/iss2021/en/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Wanted! 100 Things You Want MZ To Do in Space!|language=en|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526081150/http://www.yusakumaezawa.com/iss2021/en/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The flight lifted off on 8 December 2021, from [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] in Kazakhstan as part of the Russian-operated [[Soyuz MS-20]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=httphttps://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html#soyuz_ms20|title=Space exploration in 2021|website=www.russianspaceweb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Russian rocket blasts off carrying Japanese billionaire to ISS|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/8/russian-rocket-blasts-off-carrying-japanese-billionaire-to-iss|access-date=2021-12-08|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-08|title=Space Tourist Billionaire Maezawa Blasts Off to Space - December 8, 2021|url=https://dailynewsbrief.com/2021/12/08/space-tourist-billionaire-maezawa-blasts-off-to-space/|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Daily News Brief|language=en-US|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127123601/https://dailynewsbrief.com/2021/12/08/space-tourist-billionaire-maezawa-blasts-off-to-space/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 18 December, Maezawa announced that he will start a campaign in which every participant will receive a sum of money "from space."<ref>{{cite news |date=20 December 2021 |title=“"前澤友作 全員お金贈りfrom宇宙”"が『kifutown』を通じて本日12月19日(日)より開始 |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=000000010.000076768&g=prt |language=Japanese |accessdate=2021-12-20 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220040600/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=000000010.000076768&g=prt |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 December 2021 |title=Another billionaire is blasting into space — and he said he'll give away cash to people on earth while he's in orbit |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-billionaire-yusaku-maezawa-gives-away-money-on-space-flight-2021-12 |newspaper=[[Business Insider]] |accessdate=2021-12-20}}</ref> The campaign started on 19 December.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 December 2021 |title=前澤友作さん、「宇宙から全員お金贈り」スタートしサーバーがパンク「宇宙から地上に駆けつけたいくらい」 |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/hochi/20211219064-OHT1T51156/ |language=Japanese |newspaper=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]] |accessdate=2021-12-20 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220040609/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/hochi/20211219064-OHT1T51156/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He returned as planned on 20 December.<ref>{{CitationCite AV media|title=LIVE: Japanese space tourists speak after returning to Earth|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kO7SJfviME|language=en|access-date=2021-12-22|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
==Most retweeted==
On 5 January 2019, Maezawa successfully secured the [[List of most-retweeted tweets|most ever retweets]] for his [[Twitter]] message offering one million [[Japanese yen|yen]] (approx US$93009,300) each to 100 randomly selected people who retweeted the message and followed him.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1081544630754103296|user=yousuck2020|title=ZOZOTOWN新春セールが史上最速で取扱高100億円を先ほど突破！！日頃の感謝を込め、僕個人から100名様に100万円【総額1億円のお年玉】を現金でプレゼントします。応募方法は、僕をフォローいただいた上、このツイートをRTするだけ。受付は1/7まで。当選者には僕から直接DMします！ #月に行くならお年玉|date=5 January 2019}}</ref> More than four million people ended up retweeting Maezawa's tweet and following him.<ref name=tweet />
Later that year, on 31 December, he secured the second spot in the [[List of most-retweeted tweets|list of most-retweeted tweets]] by offering one million [[Japanese yen|yen]] (approx US$92009,200) each to 10001,000 randomly selected people who retweeted the [[Twitter]] message and followed him.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1212025675055452160|user=yousuck2020|title=🎍謹賀新年🎍【総額10億円】#前澤お年玉 100万円を1000人にプレゼントします！100万円で皆さまの人生がよりハッピーになりますように。応募方法は僕のフォローとこのツイートのリツイート。締切は1月7日23:59まで。企画趣旨や当選条件などはYouTubeで説明してます。https://youtu.be/JfulqIBiVfQ|date=31 December 2019}}</ref> The message surpassed the 3 million retweet'sretweets mark.{{fact|date=May 2022}}
==Personal life==
Maezawa is divorced, with three children, and lives in [[Chiba (city)|Chiba]], Japan.<ref name="Paton 2020">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/style/yusaku-maezawa-space-girlfriend.html|title=Who Is Yusaku Maezawa, the Japanese Billionaire Seeking a 'Special Woman' for Space — and Life?|first=Elizabeth|last=Paton|work=The New York Times |date=13 January 2020|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>
He is divorced, with one child, and lives in [[Chiba (city)|Chiba]], Japan.<ref name="forbes1"/>
==References==
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