Larry Ellison Overtakes Mark Zuckerberg as World’s Second-Richest Person

Larry Ellison has overtaken Mark Zuckerberg to become the world’s second-richest individual, following a sharp rise in Oracle’s stock price driven by investor enthusiasm around artificial intelligence. Ellison, the 80-year-old co-founder of Oracle, now holds a net worth of \$251 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That figure represents a nearly \$60 billion increase in 2025 alone, with much of his wealth tied to his 40% stake in Oracle, the software company he founded in 1977.

Oracle’s stock has surged 41% year-to-date, fueled by strong earnings, continued investment in AI and cloud infrastructure, and the company’s growing presence in high-stakes federal AI initiatives. The stock’s recent rally, particularly over the past two weeks, mirrors broader trends in tech markets as companies like Nvidia continue to ride a wave of investor interest in AI. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who also saw his fortune rise dramatically this year, recently confirmed government approval to resume high-end chip shipments to China, further boosting optimism in the sector.

Ellison has been closely involved in shaping U.S. AI strategy under the Biden administration. He was among a select group of tech leaders present for the launch of Stargate, a new federal initiative designed to give the United States a competitive edge in artificial intelligence. Oracle is one of the founding equity members of Stargate, alongside SoftBank, OpenAI, and MGX. The program is expected to funnel \$500 billion into AI infrastructure over four years. Oracle and OpenAI are also core technology partners in the initiative, working in concert with Microsoft, Nvidia, and Arm.

The company’s financial performance has further fueled Ellison’s wealth gains. In May, Oracle reported fourth-quarter revenues of \$15.9 billion, an 11% year-over-year increase. Its remaining performance obligations—a key indicator of future revenue—jumped 41% to \$138 billion. Oracle also announced a \$3 billion investment in Germany and the Netherlands to expand cloud and AI infrastructure across Europe.

Despite the upbeat momentum, not all analysts are bullish. Goldman Sachs maintained a ‘neutral’ rating on Oracle in a June note, cautioning that heavy investments in AI infrastructure—particularly in the capital-intensive training cycle—could strain the company’s free cash flow in the near term.

Ellison’s rise comes amid broader reshuffling among the world’s richest tech leaders. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang has now surpassed Warren Buffett, reaching a net worth of \$149 billion compared to Buffett’s \$141 billion.

Beyond business, Ellison has reaffirmed his commitment to philanthropy. Having first signed the Giving Pledge in 2010—promising to donate 95% of his wealth—he reiterated that commitment this week while announcing the launch of the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), based at the University of Oxford. In a statement on X, he described EIT as an initiative focused on delivering practical solutions to global issues like hunger, healthcare, and climate change.

Ellison wrote that while nonprofit organizations remain vital to public good, he plans to invest more directly through EIT to accelerate impact. “I am amending my giving pledge and promising to do more—by concentrating my resources on the Institute,” he said.