Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, has recently reclaimed the title of the world's richest person. This achievement underscores a remarkable journey from a challenging early life to the pinnacle of technological and financial success.

Born in 1944, Lawrence Joseph Ellison's early life was marked by adversity. He was adopted at nine months old by his mother's aunt and uncle and grew up on the south side of Chicago. Ellison dropped out of both the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago. He then moved to Berkeley, California, where he started working as a computer programmer at Ampex. There, he contributed to the development of a database for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) called Oracle.

In 1977, Ellison, along with two partners, founded what would become Oracle Corporation. Oracle went public on March 12, 1986, a day before Microsoft's IPO. Ellison served as Oracle's CEO until September 2014, after which he transitioned to Chairman and Chief Technology Officer.

Oracle's recent success is largely attributed to its promising forecast for cloud operations and its focus on AI and cloud services. This surge in Oracle's stock has significantly increased Ellison's wealth. As of September 2025, his net worth is estimated at $393 billion, surpassing Elon Musk. Bloomberg reported that Ellison's wealth increased by $101 billion. Ellison owns approximately 1.16 billion Oracle shares, which increased 40% to $338.

Ellison's journey is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and vision. He has made bold decisions and taken calculated risks, contributing significantly to the software and cloud industry. His leadership propelled Oracle to the forefront of technology, making it a dominant force in cloud computing and AI.

Beyond his achievements at Oracle, Ellison has diverse investments, including Tesla Inc., a sailing organization, the Indian Wells tennis tournament, and substantial property holdings, such as the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which he bought in 2012 for $300 million and moved to permanently in 2020.

Ellison's personal life has also garnered attention. He has been married five times. His lifestyle is known to be extravagant, with acquisitions including megayachts, private aircraft, and prestigious properties.

Despite his success, Ellison's philanthropy score is limited. However, his impact on technology and business is undeniable. His story serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that with vision and persistence, it is possible to overcome challenges and achieve extraordinary success.