On Friday, July 18, 2025, Mr. Larry Ellison, Oracle’s co-founder and chairman, overtook Mr. Mark Zuckerberg to become the world’s second-richest person, with a net worth of $251 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The 80-year-old’s wealth, primarily from his 40% stake in Oracle, surged by nearly $60 billion in 2025, fueled by a 41% year-to-date rise in Oracle’s stock, as shown in the finance card above, with the stock reaching $249.63 after a recent rally. This growth stems from Oracle’s aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure, mirroring the success of AI-driven companies like Nvidia, whose CEO, Mr. Jensen Huang, saw his net worth rise to $149 billion, surpassing Mr. Warren Buffett’s $141 billion. Oracle’s fiscal year results in May reported $15.9 billion in Q4 revenue, an 11% increase, with a 41% jump in remaining performance obligations to $138 billion, bolstered by a $3 billion investment in AI and cloud infrastructure in Germany and the Netherlands.
Ellison’s role in the Biden administration’s Stargate initiative, a $500 billion AI infrastructure project alongside OpenAI, SoftBank, and Nvidia, has further boosted Oracle’s profile. Despite this, Goldman Sachs analysts issued a cautious “neutral” rating in June, citing risks of Oracle over-investing in capital-intensive AI training cycles, potentially impacting free cash flow. Beyond business, Ellison reaffirmed his commitment to the Giving Pledge, initially signed in 2010, to donate 95% of his wealth. He announced a renewed focus on the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) at Oxford University, aiming to address global challenges like healthcare, hunger, and climate change through innovations in life-saving drugs, high-yield crops, and clean energy systems, emphasizing practical solutions over traditional nonprofit giving.
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