10 things to know about Larry Ellison, new world’s richest person

Lawrence Joseph Ellison is an American businessman and the co-founder of Oracle Corporation.

He led the company as chief executive officer from 1977 until 2014 and now serves as its chief technology officer and executive chairman.

As of July 2025, Ellison ranked as the world’s second-richest person. Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index estimates his wealth at US$257 billion, while Forbes places it at US$286.8 billion.

Tribune Online reports that Larry Ellison overtook Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person.

Here are ten key facts about the billionaire entrepreneur:

Oracle co-founder

Ellison co-founded Oracle in 1977, developing it into one of the world’s largest software and database companies.

World’s Richest Person

As of September 2025, Ellison is at the top of Bloomberg’s billionaires index, with most of his fortune tied to his 41% stake in Oracle.

Oracle’s AI-driven Growth

The company’s value has surged thanks to rising demand for its cloud services from artificial intelligence firms, including OpenAI.

Tesla Stakeholder

Ellison is a shareholder in Tesla and previously served on the electric carmaker’s board between 2018 and 2022.

Backing Musk’s Twitter Deal

He invested $1 billion in Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, showing the close ties between the two.

Lanai Island Owner

Ellison owns nearly all of Lanai, a Hawaiian island, where he has invested in luxury resorts and sustainability projects.

Sports Interests

He owns Oracle Team USA, a successful sailing team, and the Indian Wells tennis tournament in California.

Political Links

Ellison has been a supporter of Donald Trump and appeared alongside him at White House events, including the launch of a $500bn AI infrastructure initiative.

Self-made Billionaire

Born in New York and raised in Chicago by adoptive parents, Ellison dropped out of college twice before moving to California to work in tech.

Still Active at 81

At the age of 81, Ellison remains active in Oracle and maintains influence in both technology and business, with a legacy that stretches across industries.

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