The Visionary
A look at the co-founder of Oracle Corporation, a titan of the software industry who transformed how the world uses data.
$146.1B
Estimated Net Worth (2024)
1977
Oracle Founded
CTO
Current Role at Oracle
The Journey: An Interactive Timeline
From a college dropout to a software magnate, his career is marked by bold moves and pivotal moments. Click on any point in the timeline to explore key events that shaped his path and the tech industry.
The Empire: Building Oracle
Under Ellison's leadership, Oracle grew from a small startup into a global software powerhouse through relentless innovation and strategic acquisitions. This section visualizes the scale of Oracle's financial growth and its most significant corporate purchases.
Oracle Revenue Growth (in Billions USD)
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Major Acquisitions (Cost in Billions USD)
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The Magnate: Wealth & Lifestyle
Beyond Oracle, Ellison is known for his immense wealth and a lifestyle that includes yacht racing, aviation, and significant real estate holdings. The chart below tracks the remarkable growth of his net worth over the past two decades.
Larry Ellison's Net Worth Growth (in Billions USD)
An illustration of his wealth accumulation over time
The Legacy: Leadership & Philanthropy
Ellison's legacy is complex, defined by a famously competitive leadership style and, in later years, significant philanthropic contributions. This section explores these dual aspects of his public persona.
Leadership Style
Known for his aggressive business tactics and a "take-no-prisoners" approach to competition, Ellison built Oracle's culture around winning. He is often described as a brilliant, charismatic, and demanding leader who pushed his teams to achieve ambitious goals. His vision for the potential of relational databases set the standard for the entire enterprise software industry.
"The most important aspect of my personality as far as determining my success goes; has been my questioning conventional wisdom, doubting experts and questioning authority."
Philanthropy
In 2010, Larry Ellison signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes. His philanthropic efforts are primarily focused through the Lawrence Ellison Foundation. The foundation supports research on aging and age-related diseases, with the goal of understanding lifespan development and improving quality of life. He has also made significant contributions to wildlife conservation and polio eradication efforts.
Test Your Knowledge
You've explored the journey, the empire, and the legacy. Now, see how much you remember with this short quiz.