Larry Ellison

Lawrence Joseph Ellison is an American entrepreneur and business executive who co-founded Oracle Corporation in 1977, serving as its chief executive officer until 2014 and currently holding the positions of chairman and chief technology officer. The company, initially developed to create a relational database management system inspired by a 1970 academic paper, revolutionized enterprise data handling and grew into a dominant force in software and cloud computing under Ellison's direction. As Oracle's largest shareholder with roughly 40% ownership, Ellison amassed substantial wealth, reaching an estimated net worth of $388 billion by late 2025, propelled by the firm's expansion into AI-driven cloud infrastructure that briefly positioned him as the world's richest individual in September of that year. Ellison's career is marked by aggressive innovation, including strategic acquisitions that solidified Oracle's market position, alongside notable personal pursuits such as competitive yacht racing—where his teams secured America's Cup victories—and extensive real estate holdings, including majority ownership of Hawaii's Lānaʻi island. He has pledged to donate 95% of his fortune, aligning with a pattern of targeted philanthropy focused on medical research and education, though his business tactics have drawn criticism for cutthroat competition and executive disputes within the tech sector.

Lawrence Joseph Ellison was born on August 17, 1944, in the Bronx borough of New York City, to Florence Spellman, an unwed 19-year-old mother of Jewish descent.