Larry Ellison: How An Abandoned Baby And College Dropout Became World's Richest Man

Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 14:25 IST

Larry Ellison's mother left him with relatives when he was just nine months old, and he did not see her again until he was 48

Larry Ellison briefly became the world's richest man on September 10

For a brief moment on Wednesday, September 10, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison eclipsed Tesla chief Elon Musk to become the world’s richest man. The feat, however, was short-lived, with Ellison sliding back behind Musk soon after, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.

The index reported that Ellison’s net worth surged by an extraordinary $101 billion in a single day, taking his fortune to $393 billion, compared with Musk’s $385 billion. This propelled the 80-year-old technology pioneer to the top of the global wealth rankings.

Yet Ellison’s rise is as remarkable for his personal story as it is for his business triumphs.

Born in June 1944 in New York to an unmarried Jewish mother, Ellison’s earliest years were marked by hardship. His mother placed him with relatives when he was just nine months old, and he did not see her again until he was 48. Growing up amid poverty and insecurity, Ellison struggled academically and dropped out of both the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago before completing his degree.

His fortunes turned only after he moved to California, where he found work in computer programming. Quick to grasp the intricacies of technology, Ellison developed a passion for software engineering that would change his life.

In 1977, with just $2,000 and two partners, Ellison launched Software Development Laboratories (SDL). The firm initially built database systems for government contracts. SDL would later be renamed Oracle Corporation, now a global technology giant.

Ellison led Oracle as Chief Executive Officer for 37 years, stepping down in 2014 but continuing as Chairman and Chief Technology Officer. His 41 percent stake in the company has remained the backbone of his wealth.

On September 10, Oracle shares soared nearly 40 per cent to $339.69, buoyed by surging demand for artificial intelligence-driven cloud services. The rally pushed the company’s market capitalisation to $948 billion in a single day, catapulting Ellison’s net worth past Musk’s.

Even after relinquishing the chief executive’s chair, Ellison has remained deeply tied to his ventures. He purchased Hawaii’s Lanai Island for $300 million in 2012, settling there permanently in 2020, while still maintaining his role as Oracle’s technological visionary.

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