Larry Ellison surpasses Elon Musk: 7 fascinating facts about world’s richest tech billionaire

In a stunning reshuffle of global wealth rankings, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has surpassed Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person.

According to Bloomberg, the surge in wealth came after Oracle’s shares jumped more than 40%, fueled by booming demand for cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) partnerships.

Although stock fluctuations briefly returned Musk to the top, Ellison’s rise highlights his decades-long legacy in the tech world.

So,  let’s take a closer look at who is Ellison.

Who is Larry Ellison?

Lawrence Joseph Ellison is an American businessman. He was Oracle's chief executive officer from 1977 to 2014 and is now its chief technology officer and executive chairman.

Larry Ellison’s net worth

As of 2025, Larry Ellison’s wealth stands at $393 billion, edging past Musk’s $385 billion, most of it tied to his massive stake in Oracle Corporation, the software giant he co-founded in 1977.

Unlike some billionaires who inherited fortunes, Ellison built his empire from scratch through bold vision, relentless competition, and strategic bets on emerging technologies.

1. Ellison’s relationship with Trump

When US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, Ellison appeared alongside OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son to announce Stargate, a mega project designed to expand AI infrastructure in the US.

His involvement cemented Oracle’s position at the centre of the AI race.

2. Oracle’s bid for TikTok

Ellison’s Oracle has emerged as a potential buyer of TikTok, the video app under pressure to divest from China’s ByteDance due to US security concerns.

If successful, this deal could make Oracle a major player in consumer tech.

3. Big ambitions in media

Ellison isn’t limiting himself to software. He reportedly helped finance an $8 billion bid by his son to acquire Paramount, the media conglomerate that owns CBS and MTV, showing his family’s ambitions stretch into Hollywood.

4. Self-made billionaire

Unlike other billionaires like Bill Gates, Ellison did not come from wealth. His billionaire status is entirely self-made, driven by Oracle’s rise and his sharp instincts in business and technology.

5. Near-death accident

In 1992, Ellison suffered a near-fatal bodysurfing accident. Despite serious injuries, he returned to Oracle within three years, proving his resilience and dedication to his company.

6. Owns a Hawaiian island

In 2012, Ellison purchased 98% of Lana’i, Hawaii’s sixth-largest island.

The $300 million acquisition turned him into one of the most unusual landowners in the US, with ambitions to transform the island into a sustainable paradise.

7. His passion for tennis

Beyond tech and business, Ellison owns the Indian Wells tennis tournament, often dubbed the sport’s “fifth slam.”

His investments have elevated the event into one of the most prestigious in global tennis.