Samsung is planning a record-high investment budget of $41.6 billion in 2012 to fund operations and fuel its growth, according to a report Monday from The Wall Street Journal. The Korean-based chipmaker and mobile device giant also plans to expand its workforce by approximately 26,000 employees this year, the report said. The planned investment budget of $41.6 billion is up a hefty 12 percent from Samsung’s investment of approximately $36 billion in 2011, the Journal reported. While the company has not disclosed the specific amounts to be invested in each of its individual business units, Samsung hopes its newly expanded budget will serve as a platform for exploring "new growth areas" in the global market.