Larry Ellison Claims World’s Richest Title: How Oracle’s AI Boom Catapulted Its Founder to the Top

11 September 2025 Business Development

Oracle’s Stock Surge Propels Ellison to New Heights

Larry Ellison has overtaken Elon Musk as the world’s richest person, with his net worth reaching an impressive $393 billion, while Musk’s fortune stands at $385 billion. This dramatic shift in wealth rankings comes after an extraordinary week for Oracle Corporation.

The Catalyst Behind the Wealth Surge

The 81-year-old executive chairman has benefited tremendously from Oracle’s growing cloud-infrastructure business, with his wealth rising by $101 billion overnight after Oracle’s stock exploded. The company’s shares surged more than 40% in morning trading, and its stock price has doubled year-to-date.

Oracle’s AI-Driven Success

Oracle’s success is largely attributed to its role as a cloud provider, with its services being highly sought after by data-hoarding AI companies since ChatGPT’s release in 2022. The company recently announced several contracts expected to yield $455 billion in revenue, a significant increase from the previous year. According to CEO Safra Catz, several more multibillion-dollar customers are expected to sign up with the company before year’s end.

Ellison’s Journey and Legacy

Ellison’s path to becoming the world’s wealthiest individual began in 1977 when he, along with Bob Miner and Ed Oates, founded Software Development Laboratories in Santa Clara, California. The company, initially contracted by the CIA to build a database program called “Oracle,” later rebranded as Oracle and went public. Today, it stands as a powerhouse in enterprise software, with its AI-driven cloud infrastructure at the forefront of the AI data center revolution.

Philanthropy and Future Outlook

Despite his vast wealth, Ellison remains committed to philanthropy, having signed The Giving Pledge in 2010 with a promise to donate 95% of his fortune. His recent establishment of the Ellison Institute of Technology at Oxford University demonstrates his commitment to innovation and technological advancement. With Oracle’s continued growth in cloud computing and AI infrastructure, Ellison’s influence in the tech world is expected to expand further.