Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corporation, has surged to become the world’s second richest individual, boasting a net worth of approximately $275.9 billion as of July 2025. He has surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, who now rank third and fourth respectively. Elon Musk remains the richest person globally, with an estimated fortune of $411.4 billion.
Stock Surge Drives Ellison’s Wealth Growth
Ellison’s rapid climb in the billionaire rankings follows a remarkable 32% rise in Oracle’s stock price during June alone. Holding nearly 41% ownership in Oracle, Ellison’s net worth increased by more than $56 billion in just over a month. This surge reflects growing demand for Oracle’s cloud computing services and enterprise AI technologies, positioning the company as a key player in the tech industry’s competitive AI landscape.
The Current Billionaire Rankings
- Elon Musk: $411.4 billion
- Larry Ellison: $275.9 billion
- Mark Zuckerberg: $235.7 billion
- Jeff Bezos: $227 billion
Both Zuckerberg and Bezos have experienced fluctuations in their net worth due to changes in Meta’s and Amazon’s stock values, affecting their positions in recent years.
Who is Larry Ellison?
Born in New York City in 1944, Larry Ellison was raised by his aunt and uncle in Chicago after being born to a single mother. He dropped out of college twice before dedicating about ten years to coding jobs at companies like Ampex and Amdahl. Inspired by an IBM research paper on relational databases, Ellison founded Oracle in 1977 with two partners, Bob Miner and Ed Oates, initially investing just $2,000.
Oracle’s Early Success and Growth
Oracle’s breakthrough came through a $50,000 CIA contract to develop a relational database management system, code-named “Oracle.” This contract gave the company both its name and first major client. By 1979, Oracle launched the first commercial version of its SQL-based database system, laying the foundation for its future dominance.
Ellison’s Role in Oracle’s Expansion and AI Revolution
Although Ellison stepped down as CEO in 2014, he continues to serve as chairman and chief technology officer. Under his leadership, Oracle expanded aggressively into cloud computing, acquiring companies like Sun Microsystems and NetSuite. Today, Oracle plays a central role in the AI and cloud computing revolution, with Ellison spearheading its innovative strategies.
A Legacy Beyond Wealth
At 80 years old, Larry Ellison’s rise to the second richest person in the world is not just a tale of wealth but a testament to his visionary leadership and impact on the tech industry. From humble beginnings to becoming a titan of enterprise technology, Ellison’s journey continues to inspire.
