Oracle Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison has officially become the world’s richest person, overtaking Tesla CEO Elon Musk, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings. This shift follows a historic surge in Oracle’s stock, which rose 41% on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) — its largest single-day increase since 1992.
Oracle’s AI-Driven Rally Pushes Ellison to the Top
Ellison’s net worth skyrocketed by $101 billion, bringing his total fortune to an estimated $395.7 billion. The dramatic increase came after Oracle issued an optimistic forecast for its cloud business, driven by surging global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company now holds a market valuation of $947 billion and has positioned itself as a leading player in the race for AI dominance.
In contrast, Elon Musk’s wealth took a hit as Tesla’s stock fell 14% in 2025. Musk had maintained the top spot for over 300 days, previously reclaiming it from Jeff Bezos and Bernard Arnault. The recent drop in Tesla shares has pushed him back down in the global rankings.
The stock rally also signals growing investor confidence in Oracle’s long-term AI strategy. Analysts say Oracle’s infrastructure, especially its cloud services tailored for large-scale AI workloads, has become a serious competitor to Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.
A Legacy of Innovation and Growing Influence in AI
At 80 years old, Ellison remains deeply involved in Oracle’s operations, serving as both Chairman and CTO. He founded the company in 1977 and was its CEO until 2014. His wealth remains heavily tied to Oracle’s performance, which had already gained 45% earlier this year before the latest rally.
Oracle projects revenue growth of 12–14% and cloud revenue growth of 32–36% for the upcoming quarter. The company is also playing a strategic role in the U.S. government’s AI initiative, “Project Stargate,” under President Donald Trump, alongside tech giants OpenAI and SoftBank.
Ellison has been outspoken about AI’s transformative potential, suggesting it could usher in a new era of behavior monitoring through advanced recording and reporting technologies. While his vision has raised both excitement and concern, it reflects Oracle’s expanding role in shaping the future of data, surveillance, and digital ethics.
With Ellison now at the helm of the billionaire list, the spotlight turns not only to his wealth — but to the growing influence of Oracle in global tech and policy.
