I've been following Larry Ellison's story for a while, and honestly, what happened last September with Oracle really struck me. In one day, this 81-year-old man dethroned Elon Musk to become the world's richest person. His fortune skyrocketed by over $100 billion, reaching $393 billion. The context? Oracle had just announced a $300 billion five-year contract with OpenAI. The market reacted wildly, with the stock jumping 40% in a single day. It's crazy when you think about it.

But what really interests me is how this guy pulled off this move. Ellison didn't invent databases, but he understood their commercial value before anyone else. He started in 1977 with $2,000, co-founding Software Development Laboratories with two colleagues. They developed Oracle inspired by a project for the CIA. That's how you build an empire.

And then there was this impressive strategic shift. While everyone said Oracle was lagging behind AWS and Azure, he saw the AI wave coming. Summer 2025, the company underwent massive restructuring, laying off thousands in sales and traditional software, while heavily investing in data centers and AI infrastructure. The timing was perfect. Oracle transformed from an old software provider into a key player in AI infrastructure.

Now, what also amuses me is his private life. In 2024, Larry Ellison discreetly married Jolin Zhu, a woman of Chinese origin born in Shenyang. She’s 47 years younger than him, a University of Michigan graduate. The info leaked through a university donation document. So Larry Ellison marries someone who could almost be his granddaughter, and no one notices until an official paper reveals it. It’s crazy.

But Ellison isn’t just a businessman. He’s also an obsessed athlete. The guy works out several hours a day, drinks only water and green tea, and at 81, he looks like he’s 60. In 2013, his team Oracle Team USA won the America’s Cup after a spectacular comeback. He even created SailGP, a catamaran racing competition that attracts investors like Anne Hathaway and Mbappé.

On the political and philanthropic front, he’s very active too. A longtime supporter of the Republican Party, he has funded several campaigns. Last January, he was at the White House with Masayoshi Son and Sam Altman to announce a $500 billion AI data center network. It wasn’t just business; it was also political power.

What really impresses me is his long-term vision. Unlike many billionaires, Larry Ellison follows his personal vision even in philanthropy. He signed the Giving Pledge in 2010, committing to give away 95% of his wealth. But he refuses to follow the collective model of Gates or Buffett. He prefers to shape his own future. He has directed resources toward the Ellison Institute of Technology in partnership with Oxford to study medicine, agriculture, and clean energy.

And then there’s his son David, who acquired Paramount Global for $8 billion, with $6 billion supported by the Ellison family. The father in Silicon Valley, the son in Hollywood. It’s a dynasty building right before our eyes.

The throne of the richest could change hands tomorrow, but for now, Ellison has shown that the legends of the old tech guard aren’t done yet. At 81, he’s still riding the waves, both literally and figuratively.