Larry Ellison, 81, and the Day He Became Richer Than Elon Musk — A Billionaire’s Brief Reign

 

Billionaire Larry Ellison, the World richest man

Larry Ellison: The Man Who Briefly Unseated Elon Musk as the Richest Person on Earth

In a moment that has captured global attention, Larry Ellison, Oracle’s 81-year-old co-founder, claimed the title of the world’s richest person for a few hours on September 10, 2025, overtaking Elon Musk. Though the position was short-lived, the story offers a fascinating window into Ellison’s journey, his company’s resurgence, and how fortunes can shift in the blink of an eye.

Who Is Larry Ellison?

Early days & Oracle origins: Co-founder of Oracle in 1977, Ellison has been a titan in enterprise software for decades. He served as its CEO until 2014, and now holds the roles of Executive Chairman & CTO. 

Personal interests & investments: Outside of Oracle, Ellison is known for owning the Hawaiian island of Lānaʻi, having a passion for sailing, real estate, and long-standing involvement in both tech and political circles. 

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The Day That Made Headlines

On that fateful Wednesday, Oracle’s stock soared by about 35-40+% after strong earnings and a bullish outlook, especially in its cloud infrastructure and AI business. 

Ellison owns roughly 41% of Oracle, so the stock surge translated into a gain of over $100 billion in his net worth—enough to cross the threshold to surpass Musk, whose net worth was around $385 billion at the time. Ellison’s was pegged near $393 billion. 

However, by market close, Musk had regained the top spot in some rankings, as Oracle’s stock settled somewhat from its peak. 

What This Moment Tells Us

Age is no barrier: At 81, Ellison shows that influence, strategy, and ownership in foundational sectors like AI/cloud can matter more than youth or hype.

The power of foundations: Oracle may not be as flashy as some consumer-tech giants, but its role in enabling AI infrastructure means its growth is tied to a trend that defines our era.

Volatility is the new constant: These rankings can flip quickly—earnings reports, market sentiment, AI breakthroughs, or regulatory changes. Ellison’s brief reign is a reminder of how fast things can move.

Takeaway

Larry Ellison’s short-lived crown is more than just a blip in billionaire rankings—it reflects real shifts in what is valuable in tech today: the infrastructure behind the AI race. Whether or not he remains number one, Ellison’s story underscores that stability, deep tech, and ownership of key infrastructure are powerful levers in the evolving tech economy.

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