Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, briefly overtook Elon Musk as the world’s richest man after a surge in Oracle’s stock lifted his fortune to $393 billion. Musk, however, regained the lead by the market’s close, with a net worth of $384 billion.
At 81, Ellison is not as universally recognized as Musk but is a central figure in technology, politics, and business. He co-founded Oracle in the 1970s after building a database for the CIA, growing the company into a global powerhouse in enterprise software and cloud computing. The rise of artificial intelligence has further boosted Oracle’s value, with deals secured from companies like OpenAI.
Known for his extravagant lifestyle, Ellison owns yachts, jets, and nearly the entire Hawaiian island of Lanai, where he built luxury resorts and a hydroponic farm. Beyond Oracle, he has held a seat on Tesla’s board and maintains a large stake in the company. His son, David Ellison, now runs Paramount Skydance, the media group that controls CBS, Paramount Pictures, MTV, and more.
Ellison has close ties to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, often hosting them and other high-profile figures at his Lanai estate. He has also donated heavily to the Israeli military, including a record $16.6 million in 2017. Politically, Oracle has positioned itself as a potential buyer of TikTok, aligning with Trump’s push for the app’s U.S. divestment.
Despite his rivalry with Musk over the wealth title, the two remain friends. Musk has even referred to Ellison as one of the smartest people he has ever met, calling him both a mentor and a peer.
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