Who is Larry Ellison? Source of wealth and rise to the top
Co-founder of Oracle Corp, Larry Ellison. Image Credit: Bloomberg
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has officially dethroned Elon Musk as the world’s richest man, following an unprecedented surge in Oracle’s stock value driven by artificial intelligence demand.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ellison’s wealth jumped by $101 billion in a single day, reaching $393 billion, surpassing Musk’s net worth of $385 billion. The leap marks the largest one-day increase ever recorded by the index.
Oracle Stock Skyrockets on AI Demand
Oracle shares soared 41% on Wednesday, the company’s biggest single-day gain since 1992. The rally came after CEO Safra Catz announced that Oracle had signed four multibillion-dollar contracts during the quarter and expected more in the coming months.
The surge reflects Oracle’s transformation into a major player in AI infrastructure. Its vast data centers are now powering applications from global tech leaders, including a recent deal to provide 4.5 gigawatts of electricity to OpenAI for its expanding AI models. With a backlog of $455 billion in AI-related services, analysts are calling Oracle’s growth trajectory “staggering.”
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Larry Ellison Rise to the Top
Ellison, 81, co-founded Oracle in 1977 after dropping out of college. Over nearly five decades, he built the company into a global software powerhouse. Today, Oracle is at the center of the AI revolution, competing directly with Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia in cloud infrastructure.
His 42% stake in Oracle is the foundation of his wealth. With Oracle’s stock doubling in value this year alone, Ellison’s fortune has surged at a pace unmatched by other billionaires in 2025.
Musk Knocked from the Top
Elon Musk, who first became the world’s richest man in 2021, has largely held the title for years thanks to Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures. He briefly lost it in 2021 to Bernard Arnault and in 2024 to Jeff Bezos, but quickly reclaimed it both times.
Despite Tesla granting him a potential trillion-dollar pay package tied to future milestones, Musk’s net worth has dipped amid fluctuating stock performance and controversies surrounding his leadership style and public behavior.
Ellison’s Investments and Lifestyle
Beyond Oracle, Ellison is known for his bold investments. He owns 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lana’i, where he has invested heavily in sustainability projects. He also revived the Indian Wells tennis tournament, often dubbed the sport’s “fifth slam.”
Ellison’s ties extend into politics and business. He has appeared frequently alongside President Donald Trump at White House technology events, with Oracle winning several government contracts under his watch. He has even been floated as a potential suitor for TikTok, though no deal has materialized.
What This Means for Global Tech
Ellison’s rise reflects the dominance of artificial intelligence in shaping global wealth. Just as Nvidia and Microsoft have reached record valuations, Oracle has surged toward a $1 trillion market cap, positioning itself as a cornerstone of AI infrastructure.
As AI reshapes the technology landscape, Ellison’s leadership and Oracle’s expansion suggest the billionaire’s reign at the top of the wealth rankings may only just be beginning.