by Why in News?
Larry Ellison has been in the global spotlight after Oracle’s share price skyrocketed due to strong demand for AI-powered cloud infrastructure. This pushed his net worth above $390 billion, making him briefly the richest person in the world, overtaking Elon Musk. His sudden rise reflects how AI has become a new wealth driver in the tech industry.
- Oracle shares gained massively in 2025.
- Ellison’s net worth increased by over $100 billion in a year.
- He is now competing with Elon Musk for the top billionaire spot.
Early Life of Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison was born on August 17, 1944, in New York City. His biological father abandoned the family, and his mother gave him up for adoption. He was raised in Chicago by his aunt and uncle in modest circumstances. Despite early hardships, Ellison developed resilience and determination.
- Born to a single mother, raised by relatives.
- Grew up in a middle-class household in Chicago.
- Dropped out of college but pursued programming.
Career Beginnings
Ellison moved to California in the 1960s and began working as a computer programmer. He was fascinated by data storage systems and worked with Ampex Corporation, where he encountered the idea of relational databases. This exposure laid the foundation for Oracle.
- Worked at Amdahl Corporation and Ampex.
- Gained technical experience in databases.
- Vision to commercialize relational database systems.
Founding of Oracle
In 1977, Ellison co-founded Software Development Laboratories (SDL) with Bob Miner and Ed Oates. Inspired by research papers from IBM’s Edgar F. Codd, they developed the Oracle database. The company was renamed Oracle Corporation in 1982 and went public in 1986, marking the start of its rapid global growth.
- Founded with $2,000 investment, including $1,200 from Ellison.
- Pioneered relational database management systems (RDBMS).
- Expanded globally with aggressive marketing and acquisitions.
Table – Major Acquisitions of Oracle
| Year | Acquisition | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | PeopleSoft | Expanded ERP solutions |
| 2010 | Sun Microsystems | Acquired Java & MySQL |
| 2016 | NetSuite | Strengthened cloud presence |
Leadership at Oracle
Ellison served as CEO of Oracle from 1977 to 2014, making him one of the longest-serving tech leaders. After stepping down, he took the role of Executive Chairman and CTO, continuing to shape Oracle’s technical direction. His bold decisions in cloud computing have positioned Oracle as a major AI infrastructure player.
- Served 37 years as CEO.
- Known for bold acquisitions and risk-taking.
- Shifted Oracle from traditional databases to AI and cloud.
Personal Life and Interests
Beyond business, Ellison is known for his luxury lifestyle and adventurous spirit. He owns 98% of Lānaʻi Island in Hawaii, has a passion for yachting, and won the prestigious America’s Cup. He is also an aviation enthusiast and owns multiple aircraft. Despite his wealth, Ellison has pledged to give away a significant portion through philanthropy.
- Owns a private island in Hawaii.
- Passionate about sailing and aviation.
- Committed to philanthropy via the Giving Pledge.
Larry Ellison Net Worth 2025
Ellison’s wealth has surged dramatically in recent years, driven by Oracle’s dominance in cloud and AI services. He briefly became the richest person in the world in September 2025.
Table – Larry Ellison’s Net Worth Growth
| Year | Net Worth (Approx.) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $70 billion | #6 |
| 2022 | $100 billion | #5 |
| 2023 | $150 billion | #4 |
| 2024 | $170 billion | #3 |
| 2025 | $383–393 billion | #1–2 |
- Wealth quadrupled in 3 years.
- AI and cloud computing fueled growth.
- Competing closely with Elon Musk.
Achievements of Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison is celebrated as one of the greatest tech visionaries. He transformed a small startup into a global technology leader and pioneered enterprise database solutions. His risk-taking, acquisitions, and innovation shaped the software industry.
- Built Oracle into a $300B+ tech giant.
- Revolutionized enterprise data management.
- Recognized as a global business icon.
Criticisms and Challenges
Despite his achievements, Ellison has faced criticism. Oracle has been accused of using aggressive sales tactics and was late in fully embracing cloud computing compared to Amazon and Microsoft. Critics argue that Oracle’s reliance on acquisitions raises regulatory and competitive challenges.
- Aggressive business strategies often criticized.
- Initially lagged behind AWS and Azure in cloud.
- Facing stiff competition in AI and cloud markets.
Top 10 Richest People in the World (September 2025)
The wealth rankings in 2025 are dominated by technology entrepreneurs, with Larry Ellison and Elon Musk leading the list.
Table – World’s Richest Persons 2025
| Rank | Name | Net Worth (Approx.) | Industry / Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Larry Ellison | $383–393 billion | Oracle (Cloud, AI) |
| 2 | Elon Musk | $380–400 billion | Tesla, SpaceX, xAI |
| 3 | Jeff Bezos | $215–250 billion | Amazon, Blue Origin |
| 4 | Mark Zuckerberg | $200–250 billion | Meta Platforms |
| 5 | Bernard Arnault | $170–180 billion | LVMH (Luxury Goods) |
| 6 | Larry Page | $160–180 billion | Google (Alphabet) |
| 7 | Sergey Brin | $150–170 billion | Google (Alphabet) |
| 8 | Warren Buffett | $150–160 billion | Berkshire Hathaway |
| 9 | Steve Ballmer | $130–150 billion | Microsoft |
| 10 | Amancio Ortega / Jensen Huang | $120–130 billion | Zara / NVIDIA |
Key Insights
The billionaire rankings highlight the growing role of technology and AI in wealth creation. While Musk and Ellison dominate the top, other tech founders like Zuckerberg, Page, and Brin continue to hold strong positions. Non-tech billionaires like Bernard Arnault and Warren Buffett are rare exceptions.
- Tech dominates 8 out of 10 spots.
- AI is the biggest driver of wealth growth in 2025.
- Wealth rankings remain volatile with market shifts.
FAQs on Larry Ellison and World’s Richest Persons 2025
1. Who is Larry Ellison?
Larry Ellison is the co-founder, Executive Chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation. He is one of the most influential figures in the technology industry and became the world’s richest person in 2025 after Oracle’s stock surged.
2. Why is Larry Ellison in the news in 2025?
Ellison is in the news because his net worth crossed $390 billion, briefly surpassing Elon Musk, due to the massive growth of Oracle’s AI-powered cloud infrastructure business.
3. How did Larry Ellison start Oracle?
In 1977, Ellison co-founded a small company called Software Development Laboratories (SDL) with Bob Miner and Ed Oates. The company was later renamed Oracle, becoming a global leader in database and enterprise software.
4. What is Larry Ellison’s current net worth?
As of September 2025, Larry Ellison’s net worth is estimated at $383–393 billion, making him either the first or second richest person in the world, depending on market fluctuations.
5. What are Larry Ellison’s main sources of wealth?
Larry Ellison’s wealth comes primarily from his stake in Oracle Corporation, investments in technology, and ownership of luxury assets such as Lānaʻi Island in Hawaii.
6. Who are the top 5 richest people in the world in 2025?
The top 5 richest people are:
-
Larry Ellison ($383–393B)
-
Elon Musk ($380–400B)
-
Jeff Bezos ($215–250B)
-
Mark Zuckerberg ($200–250B)
-
Bernard Arnault ($170–180B)
7. How did AI contribute to Ellison’s rise in wealth?
AI played a major role as Oracle’s AI cloud infrastructure attracted global clients. This boosted Oracle’s stock prices, significantly increasing Ellison’s net worth in 2025.
8. What are some criticisms of Larry Ellison?
Ellison has faced criticism for Oracle’s aggressive sales practices, slow entry into the cloud market compared to Amazon and Microsoft, and heavy reliance on acquisitions to expand business.
