Tech

A Japanese billionaire now has most retweeted tweet ever after offering a $923,000 prize

Key Points
  • A tweet from Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has become the most retweeted message in history.
  • Maezawa offered followers an incentive of almost $1 million to share his tweet.
  • He is the founder of Japanese online clothing retailer Zozo Inc.
Japanese billionaire entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa speaks at SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. 
Michael Sheetz | CNBC

A message from Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has become the most retweeted tweet of all time.

Maezawa took to Twitter on Saturday to give 100 randomly selected retweeters the chance to win a share of 100 million Japanese yen ($923,000).

Twitter users were given until Monday to follow Maezawa's account and retweet the promotion to be in with a chance of scooping the prize. His tweet has now been shared almost 5 million times.

Maezawa, the founder of Japanese online retailer Zozo Inc, sent the tweet after his website Zozotown posted sales of 10 billion yen in its New Year's sale. He previously gained international attention after securing a seat aboard SpaceX's inaugural tourist flight to the moon. The mission from Elon Musk's transportation company is expected to launch in 2023.

Maezawa's tweet overtook a plea from Carter Wilkerson to gain enough retweets to persuade fast food chain Wendy's to award him a year's worth of free chicken nuggets.

A spokesperson for Zozo Inc was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

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