Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, is a tech mogul and one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. Known for his larger-than-life persona and sharp business acumen, Ellison briefly surpassed Elon Musk as the world’s richest person in 2025. His wealth peaked at $393 billion, overtaking Musk’s fortune of $385 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Oracle’s Surge: The Key to Ellison’s Wealth
Ellison’s rise to the top of the wealth charts came after Oracle’s stock price soared over 40%, fueled by impressive growth in its cloud infrastructure and AI business. This surge followed Oracle’s optimistic forecast for its cloud segment, which is expected to generate significant revenue in the coming years. The company also signed multibillion-dollar contracts with top AI firms, propelling its stock and Ellison’s fortune.
Oracle’s strength in providing data center infrastructure has played a key role in its recent success. Demand for AI-related services, particularly among tech companies, has driven Oracle’s revenue projections up, with the cloud division alone expected to hit $18 billion in revenue for 2025, a 77% increase from the previous year.
Ellison’s Legacy in Tech
Ellison, now 81, co-founded Oracle in 1977, building the company into a global leader in database software. He served as the company’s CEO until 2014, and now holds the titles of chairman and chief technology officer. Throughout his career, Ellison became known not just for his business prowess but also for his extravagant lifestyle—luxury yachts, private jets, and multiple homes. He has long been a public figure, frequently in the spotlight for his business and personal ventures.
Oracle’s focus on cloud computing and AI has been a game-changer in recent years, allowing Ellison’s wealth to climb. The company’s new push into AI infrastructure aligns with growing demand for data storage and computing power as artificial intelligence technology takes center stage in the tech world.
Political Ties and Media Ambitions
Beyond tech, Ellison has also made a name for himself as a prominent ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump. His political involvement has included backing initiatives like Stargate, a U.S.-based AI infrastructure project. Ellison’s strong ties to Trump are well-documented, and he has often been linked with the former president’s business and political ventures.
Ellison’s interest in media is another facet of his expansive empire. In addition to his role in Oracle, Ellison has funded his son David Ellison’s ventures in the entertainment industry. In 2025, his son completed an $8 billion deal to acquire Paramount, the parent company of CBS and MTV, through a partnership with the media company Skydance. This deal marked a significant shift in Ellison’s portfolio, adding to his media empire.
Ellison also eyed the acquisition of TikTok, a Chinese-owned app facing scrutiny in the U.S. Over the years, Ellison’s name has been linked to high-profile tech deals, positioning him as a key figure in both the tech and media industries.
The Battle with Musk
For a brief period, Ellison overtook Elon Musk as the richest person on Earth. Musk, whose fortune is tied to Tesla and SpaceX, had held the title of the world’s wealthiest individual for nearly a year before Ellison’s brief reign. Musk’s fortune fluctuates, with Tesla shares having seen a decline, partly due to investor concerns over Musk’s political involvement and regulatory changes in the electric vehicle market.
Ellison’s wealth, on the other hand, has remained more stable, buoyed by Oracle’s continued success in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. While Musk reclaimed the top spot after Oracle’s stock adjusted, Ellison’s brief stint at number one is a testament to the strength of his Oracle empire.
A Glimpse into Ellison’s Future
At 81, Ellison remains an active force in the tech industry. His company’s forward-thinking strategies in AI, cloud computing, and data centers have positioned him well for the future. Combined with his political alliances and media interests, Ellison’s influence on the world stage is far-reaching. As Oracle continues to thrive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape, Ellison’s fortune is likely to keep growing, ensuring his place among the wealthiest individuals on Earth for years to come