Larry Ellison – The New Richest Person in the World 2025 | Oracle Co-Founder

Business/Growth

Lawrence Joseph “Larry” Ellison, co-founder, executive chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation, has reclaimed the title of the world’s richest person in 2025. After decades at the forefront of enterprise software and cloud infrastructure, he has surged past other tech billionaires following Oracle’s meteoric rise in artificial intelligence-driven deals and cloud contracts. As of September 2025, Ellison’s net worth has been estimated at around US$393 billion, fueled by Oracle’s business momentum and strategic positioning.

At 81 years old, Ellison is a study in longevity, adaptability, and reinvention. From pioneering relational database management in the 1980s to steering Oracle into cloud computing and AI in the 2020s, he has repeatedly proved his ability to foresee major tech shifts. His ownership stake in Oracle (about 40-41%) grants him massive leverage when Oracle’s shares rally, which has happened multiple times this year.

Beyond Oracle, Ellison’s influence stretches into media, real estate, and investments. He owns the Hawaiian island of Lāna‘i, has holdings in entertainment through Paramount/Skydance, and has made investments in technology platforms aligned with the AI era. These moves not only diversify his portfolio but also cement his role not just as a tech mogul, but as a global power player deeply involved in shaping future infrastructure.

Origins & Rise of Oracle

Oracle was founded in 1977 as Software Development Laboratories by Larry Ellison and his partners. It gained early success by creating one of the first commercially available SQL-based relational database systems, which many businesses adopted to manage data. Oracle’s early growth was not just about technology but aggressive competition — Ellison always pushed the company to expand via both innovation and acquisitions, including key purchases like Sun Microsystems and NetSuite.

Throughout the 80s and 90s, Ellison established Oracle as a leading database company. As computing shifted toward the cloud and enterprise software, Oracle adapted. Under his leadership, Oracle built out rich software stacks, hardware appliances, and later cloud infrastructure. While many tech giants focused on consumer products, Oracle doubled down on enterprise clients, which proved prescient when demand for cloud and AI surged.

The transformation accelerated in the early 2020s, especially as Oracle invested heavily in its Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) business. Oracle’s shift toward supporting AI workloads and multi-cloud database services has made it a strong competitor in the space. Key contracts with companies needing AI compute capacity and data infrastructure helped drive Oracle’s stock growth dramatically. This, in turn, inflated Ellison’s net worth due to his large equity position.

Net Worth Surge & 2025 Highlights

In early to mid-2025, Ellison’s net worth jumped in hundreds of billions. In June 2025, it reached about US$258.8 billion, placing him briefly as second only to Elon Musk. A few months later, after Oracle’s shares rose sharply on strong quarterly results and favorable forecasts in AI, Ellison overtook Musk to hit around US$393 billion

The single-day gain of approximately US$101 billion marked one of the largest wealth increases ever recorded for an individual. This spike was driven by the combination of AI contracts, investor enthusiasm for cloud infrastructure, and strong financial performance by Oracle. Ellison’s ownership stake (≈ 40-41%) in Oracle amplifies every stock move.

Despite being in his eighties, Ellison continues to lead major strategy decisions as CTO, focusing on Oracle’s Stargate AI infrastructure initiative, cloud computing expansion, and data center investment. His strategic choices are increasingly influencing not just software but hardware, network infrastructure and energy-efficient design, given data center demands. His legacy now sits at the intersection of enterprise software and foundational AI infrastructure.

Personal Life & Other Ventures

Ellison was born on August 17, 1944, in New York City. He attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Chicago but did not graduate, choosing to pursue a career in tech. Over the years, his personal lifestyle has gained attention for its scale and variety — from owning islands and luxury estates to yachts and high-end sailboats. He owns nearly all of the Hawaiian island of Lāna‘i, which reflects his preference for private retreats and real estate. Also, Ellison has increasingly invested in entertainment (Paramount/Skydance), as well as in philanthropic endeavors, though much of his public image remains tied to his business achievements.

Conclusion

His wealth surge demonstrates how deeply cloud and AI infrastructure are now valued by markets. For aspiring entrepreneurs and tech watchers, Ellison’s journey underscores the importance of adaptability, strategic patience, and owning the core pieces of future infrastructure rather than just flashy consumer products.

The content provided on this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. The information presented here should not be construed as financial, investment, trading, or any other professional advice.

We do not provide any investment recommendations, financial advice, or stock market tips. Any views or opinions expressed are personal and do not represent the views of any organization the author may be associated with.

The appearance of third-party advertisements on this site does not constitute an endorsement, guarantee, warranty, or recommendation. We are not responsible for the content of external sites or any transactions you may enter into with third parties.

Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

10 Key Lessons from 'Rich Dad Poor Dad'