Larry Ellison, at 81 years old, finally becomes the world's richest person - The comeback of a veteran tech mogul in the AI era

In mid-September 2025, Oracle’s stock price skyrocketed by over 40% in just one day. 81-year-old Larry Ellison was at the center of this astonishing surge. When news of a five-year, $30 billion cloud partnership deal with OpenAI was announced, his net worth soared to $393 billion in a single day, surpassing Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This was an increase of over $100 billion in just one day. It marked nearly 50 years since Ellison co-founded Oracle in 1977 with $2,000 (himself investing $1,200), and it was a remarkable moment of resurgence for a veteran IT mogul.

From Orphan to Silicon Valley Tycoon - The Hidden Growth of Larry Ellison

Larry Ellison’s life has never been smooth sailing. Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1944, he was adopted by his foster parents at just nine months old. His adoptive father was an ordinary civil servant, and the family was not wealthy. He attended college but dropped out in his second year after his foster mother passed away, and he left the University of Chicago after one semester upon re-enrollment. His personality was incompatible with formal education, and he wandered across the United States, intermittently working in programming jobs until heading to California in the early 1970s.

In the free-spirited atmosphere of Berkeley, Ellison joined the technology company Ampex Corporation in the early 1970s. There, he participated in a CIA data management and query system project, an experience that completely changed his life. The project was code-named “Oracle,” and Ellison sensed the commercial potential of the relational data model technology he gained from this project.

In 1977, at age 32, Ellison co-founded Software Development Laboratories (SDL) with former colleagues Bob Miner and Ed Oates, with an initial capital of $2,000. The innovative decision was to develop a universal commercial database system based on the CIA project’s relational data model, for use by businesses. This was the beginning of Oracle.

Although he was not the inventor of database technology, Ellison was the first to recognize its commercial value and pioneered the enterprise software market. Oracle went public on NASDAQ in 1986, becoming a rising star, and Ellison, who led the company through most of the period from 1978 to 1996, became a Silicon Valley legend. He nearly lost his life in a surfing accident in 1992 but recovered afterward. He stepped down as CEO in 2014 but continues to lead Oracle as chairman and CTO.

Oracle’s 40-Year Journey and a ‘Major Comeback’ Driven by AI Winds

Oracle’s history is a microcosm of the tech industry. Once dominating the database market, Oracle lagged behind Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure in the early days of cloud computing. In summer 2025, the company carried out mass layoffs, primarily in hardware sales and legacy software divisions. However, it also began significantly expanding investments in data centers and AI infrastructure.

The turning point came in September 2025. Oracle’s announcement of a five-year, $30 billion cloud partnership with OpenAI sent a strong signal to the market. As generative AI industry experienced explosive growth, data centers and infrastructure became key assets, and Oracle’s existing database technology and corporate client relationships started to be re-evaluated.

This signaled Oracle’s transformation from a “traditional software provider” to a “dark horse in AI infrastructure.” The stock surge reflected the market’s high regard for this transformation. Larry Ellison, a winner of the early digital revolution in the 1990s, once again rose to victory in the AI era of the 2020s.

$393 Billion Wealth and the Ellison Family’s Strategy to Build a Media Empire

Larry Ellison’s wealth extended beyond personal assets. His son, David Ellison, recently acquired Paramount Global, a major media conglomerate, for $8 billion, with $6 billion funded by the Ellison family. This marked the expansion of the Ellison family’s wealth, combining Silicon Valley’s tech empire with Hollywood’s media giant.

In politics, Ellison’s influence was also significant. A major Republican donor, he supported Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign in 2015 and donated $15 million to Senator Tim Scott’s Super PAC in 2022. Notably, in January 2026, he visited the White House with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to announce plans to build a $500 billion AI data center network. This was more than a commercial initiative; it signified an expansion of power impacting technological dominance and national policy.

Surfing, Yachting, Tennis… The Dual Life of the Self-Management Maestro Larry Ellison

Larry Ellison presents a paradoxical image. On one hand, he is a luxury lover owning 98% of Lana’i Island in Hawaii and world-class yachts; on the other, he is renowned for strict self-discipline and autonomy.

Instinctively obsessed with water and waves, Ellison nearly lost his life in a surfing accident in 1992 but continued to seek thrills. He then immersed himself in sailing, and in 2013, his Oracle Team USA achieved a legendary comeback in the America’s Cup. Furthermore, in 2018, he founded SailGP, a high-speed catamaran sailing league, with notable investors including actress Anne Hathaway and football star Kylian Mbappé.

Tennis was another passion. He revived the Indian Wells tournament in California, turning it into the “fifth Grand Slam.” These sports activities were more than hobbies; they were key to maintaining his healthy body and mind.

Having exercised for hours daily in the 1990s and 2000s, he rarely drank sugary beverages, preferring water and green tea. This strict lifestyle helped him maintain a vibrant appearance at 81, appearing younger and more energetic than peers in their 20s.

In personal relationships, impulsiveness was prominent. In 2024, he married Jolene, a Chinese-American woman 47 years his junior. This was his fourth marriage. Some netizens joked that Ellison is attracted both to the thrill of surfing and romantic feelings, a reflection of his personality.

A Decade After Signing the Giving Pledge, Ellison Chooses a Solo Philanthropic Path

In 2010, Larry Ellison signed the Giving Pledge, promising to donate at least 95% of his wealth. However, he did not actively participate in related organizational activities like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett. In an interview with The New York Times, he stated, “I cherish solitude and am unaffected by external standards.”

In 2016, he donated $200 million to the University of Southern California to establish an cancer research center. Recently, he co-founded the Ellison Institute of Technology at Oxford University to invest in medical, food, and climate change research. He announced via social media, “We will develop new drugs to save lives, build low-cost agricultural systems, and develop efficient, clean energy.”

Ellison’s philanthropic approach was highly personal and independent. He preferred to design his own future aligned with his vision rather than acting with colleagues.

The Imperfect Victory of the Old-Generation IT Mogul and His Continuing Influence

At 81, Larry Ellison finally reached the position of the world’s richest person. However, this may be temporary, as Musk’s wealth fluctuates rapidly, and the volatility of tech stocks remains high.

Nevertheless, what Ellison demonstrated is clear. From starting with a CIA contract to building an empire of databases, stepping back during the cloud era, and then rising again in the AI age, his trajectory shows adaptability and technological prowess.

Wealth, power, marriage, sports, philanthropy, politics—every aspect of his life is dramatic and newsworthy. His stubborn, uncompromising, competitive personality makes his story more than just a personal biography; it encapsulates the history of Silicon Valley and the US tech industry.

The throne of the world’s richest may soon change, but even in an era where AI reshapes everything, the legacy of the veteran IT mogul Larry Ellison remains relevant.