Larry Ellison Net Worth

Larry Ellison Net Worth

Larry Ellison net worth – What is the net worth of Larry Ellison? Larry Ellison is an American business magnate, investor, and the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Oracle Corporation. With a net worth of $258 billion, he is consistently one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, often vying for the second or third spot on the global rich list. Known for his flamboyant lifestyle, aggressive business tactics, and competitive spirit, Ellison transformed Oracle from a small database startup into a global cloud computing giant. Beyond software, he is a major real estate tycoon, owning 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai, and a key player in the AI revolution through Oracle’s partnership with NVIDIA and investments in companies like Tesla.

What is Larry Ellison’s Net Worth?

As of 2026, Larry Ellison has an estimated net worth of US $258 billion. His fortune is derived primarily from his ownership of approximately 40% of Oracle Corporation. The company’s stock has seen a meteoric rise in recent years, driven by the exploding demand for AI-optimized cloud infrastructure. Unlike many tech founders who diversify, Ellison has held onto his massive stake, allowing his wealth to compound significantly during the AI boom. Additionally, he holds a valuable stake in Tesla, owns the vast majority of the island of Lanai (valued at over $3 billion), and possesses a billion-dollar real estate portfolio that includes properties in Malibu, Newport, and Palm Beach.

Net Worth Comparison with Other Tech Billionaires

Billionaire Estimated Net Worth
Larry Ellison $258 Billion
Elon Musk $482 Billion
Larry Page $262 Billion
Sergey Brin $255 Billion
Jeff Bezos $245 Billion
Mark Zuckerberg $222 Billion
Bill Gates $152 Billion

Larry Ellison Net Worth Growth Timeline

Year Net Worth
2018 $58.5 Billion
2020 $59.0 Billion
2022 $106.0 Billion
2024 $140.0 Billion
2026 **$258.0 Billion**

Who is Larry Ellison?

Lawrence Joseph Ellison was born on August 17, 1944, in New York City. He was adopted as an infant by his aunt and uncle in Chicago, who raised him as their own. A college dropout who never met his biological father, Ellison is the quintessential self-made man. He co-founded Oracle in 1977, seeing the potential of a relational database long before competitors. Known as the “Samurai” of Silicon Valley for his admiration of Japanese culture and warrior-like business strategy, he is the longest-tenured leader in the tech industry, still serving as CTO and Chairman well into his 80s.

Larry Ellison Biography

Field Details
Full Name Lawrence Joseph Ellison
Nickname The Samurai
Date of Birth August 17, 1944
Age 81 years
Birthplace The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Nationality American
Profession Businessman, Entrepreneur
Years Active 1977–present
Net Worth $258 billion
Source of Wealth Oracle, Tesla, Real Estate
Education University of Illinois (Dropout), University of Chicago (Dropout)
Marital Status Divorced (Four times)
Spouse Adda Quinn (1967–74), Nancy Wheeler (1977–78), Barbara Boothe (1983–86), Melanie Craft (2003–10)
Children David Ellison, Megan Ellison
Parents Lillian Ellison, Louis Ellison (Adoptive)

Early Life and Education

Larry Ellison was born to a single mother, Florence Spellman, in the Bronx. At nine months old, he contracted pneumonia, and his mother gave him up for adoption to her aunt and uncle, Lillian and Louis Ellison, in Chicago. He did not learn he was adopted until he was 12 and did not meet his biological mother again until he was 48.

He grew up in a middle-class Jewish household on the South Side of Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign but dropped out after his sophomore year following the death of his adoptive mother. He later briefly attended the University of Chicago, where he first encountered computer design, but dropped out again after one semester. In 1966, at age 22, he packed his bags and drove a turquoise Thunderbird to Berkeley, California, to join the burgeoning tech scene.

Career

Ellison bounced between jobs at companies like Wells Fargo and Amdahl in the 1970s. While working at an electronics company called Ampex, he built a database for the CIA, which he codenamed “Oracle.”

In 1977, seeing a research paper by IBM about “relational databases,” Ellison co-founded Software Development Laboratories (later Oracle) with Bob Miner and Ed Oates. They beat IBM to market, and Oracle became the industry standard for database software.

Ellison’s leadership was defined by aggressive sales tactics and ruthless acquisitions. In the 2000s, he spent billions acquiring rivals like PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems, and Sun Microsystems (which gave Oracle control of Java). In 2014, he stepped down as CEO but remained CTO and Executive Chairman. In the 2020s, he orchestrated Oracle’s pivot to cloud computing and healthcare (acquiring Cerner for $28 billion) and positioned the company as a leader in AI training infrastructure, which fueled the massive growth in his net worth.

Personal Life

Larry Ellison is famous for his “playboy” lifestyle and high-profile relationships. He has been married and divorced four times. His most recent marriage was to romance novelist Melanie Craft; Steve Jobs was the official wedding photographer. He has two children, David and Megan, both of whom are highly successful film producers (Skydance Media and Annapurna Pictures).

Ellison is an adrenaline junkie. He is a licensed pilot who owns several military jets, including a decommissioned Soviet MiG-29. He is also a world-class sailor; his team, Oracle Team USA, won the prestigious America’s Cup twice. He currently resides primarily on Lanai, the Hawaiian island he purchased in 2012 for $300 million, where he is developing a model for sustainable wellness tourism.

Favorite Things

Category Favorite
Hobby Sailing, Flying, Tennis
Possession Island of Lanai
Aircraft MiG-29, SIAI-Marchetti S.211
Culture Japanese (Samurai history)
Sport Tennis (owns Indian Wells tournament)
Residence Lanai, Hawaii

50 Unknown Facts about Larry Ellison

  1. He was a CIA contractor before founding Oracle.

  2. He named his company after a CIA project he worked on.

  3. He dropped out of college twice (University of Illinois and University of Chicago).

  4. He owns 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.

  5. He owns a decommissioned Soviet MiG-29 fighter jet.

  6. The US government refused to let him import the MiG-29 into the US, so it is stored abroad.

  7. He made a cameo appearance in the movie Iron Man 2 (playing himself).

  8. He is the inspiration for the “Tony Stark” tech-billionaire persona in the modern MCU.

  9. He is a close friend of Elon Musk and served on Tesla’s board (2018–2022).

  10. He invested $1 billion into Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X).

  11. He owns the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and the BNP Paribas Open tournament.

  12. He has an extensive collection of Japanese Samurai armor and swords.

  13. His home in Woodside, California, is modeled after a 16th-century Japanese emperor’s palace.

  14. The Woodside estate features a man-made 2.3-acre lake that is earthquake-proof.

  15. He didn’t meet his biological mother until he was 48 years old.

  16. He never met his biological father.

  17. He was Steve Jobs’ best friend; they often went on walks together.

  18. He was the official photographer at his own wedding to Melanie Craft (Steve Jobs took the photos).

  19. He owns a yacht named Musashi that is 288 feet long.

  20. He previously owned the Rising Sun, one of the largest yachts in the world (sold to David Geffen).

  21. He once hired a team to retrieve a basketball he threw off his yacht.

  22. He gave his son David an aerobatic plane for his 13th birthday.

  23. His daughter Megan produced the movies Zero Dark Thirty and Her.

  24. His son David produced Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible.

  25. He moved Oracle’s world headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin, and then to Nashville (for healthcare focus).

  26. He is a licensed commercial pilot.

  27. He has donated hundreds of millions to anti-aging research (Ellison Medical Foundation).

  28. He famously said, “Death makes me very angry.”

  29. He owns a hotel chain called Nobu Ryokan (partnered with Robert De Niro and Nobu Matsuhisa).

  30. He tried to buy the Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco 49ers but failed.

  31. He spent $200 million to win the America’s Cup sailing trophy.

  32. He was penalized in the America’s Cup for illegal modifications but still won.

  33. He owns more residential property in Malibu than almost anyone else (Carbon Beach).

  34. He bought a house in Newport, Rhode Island, formerly owned by the Astor family.

  35. He employs a “chief wellness officer” for the island of Lanai.

  36. He grows hydroponic vegetables on Lanai to supply his Nobu restaurants.

  37. He does not take a salary from Oracle (paid only $1), relying on stock options.

  38. He has pledged to give away 95% of his wealth to charity (The Giving Pledge).

  39. He is a Republican donor, unlike many Silicon Valley peers.

  40. He hosted a fundraiser for Donald Trump in 2020.

  41. He loves to play tennis and plays almost every day.

  42. He once reportedly ordered a “rush” on a cherry blossom tree delivery for his garden.

  43. He hates the concept of “retirement.”

  44. He believes the cloud is the “penultimate” step in computing.

  45. He owns a 40% stake in Oracle, never having sold down significantly.

  46. He has faced insider trading allegations but settled them without admitting guilt.

  47. He is known for “trash talking” competitors like SAP and Microsoft during keynotes.

  48. He is the oldest person to ever be ranked in the top 3 richest people in the world.

  49. He wants to turn Lanai into the first economically viable, 100% green community.

  50. He drives a Tesla and an Audi R8.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Larry Ellison?

Larry Ellison is 81 years old (as of early 2026).

Where does Larry Ellison live?

He officially resides on the island of Lanai, Hawaii, which he owns. He also spends time at his estates in Woodside, California, and Palm Beach, Florida.

Is Larry Ellison married?

He is currently divorced. He has been married four times. He has been in a long-term relationship with Nikita Kahn, and more recently linked to other partners, but remains unmarried.

How much is Larry Ellison worth?

His estimated net worth is $258 billion.

Does Larry Ellison own an island?

Yes, he owns 98% of Lanai, the sixth-largest island in Hawaii, which he purchased for $300 million in 2012.

What is Larry Ellison’s role at Oracle?

He is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Executive Chairman. He stepped down as CEO in 2014.

Is Larry Ellison a pilot?

Yes, he is an avid pilot and owns several aircraft, including military fighter jets like the MiG-29 and the SIAI-Marchetti S.211.

Did Larry Ellison appear in Iron Man?

Yes, he had a cameo as himself in Iron Man 2 (2010), telling Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), “Call me.”

Who are Larry Ellison’s children?

He has two children, David Ellison (CEO of Skydance Media) and Megan Ellison (Founder of Annapurna Pictures).

Is Larry Ellison richer than Jeff Bezos?

Yes, as of 2026 estimates, Ellison is often ranked richer than Jeff Bezos, sitting at the #2 or #3 spot globally due to the surge in Oracle stock.