Oracle co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison has climbed to the No. 2 spot on the Forbes list of the world’s richest people, after a staggering $40 billion was added to his net worth in just two days. This dramatic leap follows Oracle’s blockbuster earnings report, which sent the company’s stock price soaring by roughly 14%, one of its best performances in recent years. As of mid-June 2025, Ellison’s fortune stands at an estimated $258.8 billion, putting him ahead of tech titans Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg.
The rapid increase in Ellison’s wealth is largely attributed to the recent surge in Oracle’s stock price, which rose sharply on the back of impressive Q4 results and investor optimism around its AI-focused cloud services. The market responded enthusiastically to Oracle’s growing foothold in generative AI infrastructure, which has become one of the fastest-growing segments in tech. As a major shareholder, Ellison personally reaped the rewards, gaining approximately $26 billion in just a single day, followed by another $14 billion soon after.
Ellison’s rise to second place marks a significant shift in the billionaire rankings, long dominated by names like Elon Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg. While Musk remains firmly in the lead with a fortune north of $400 billion, Ellison’s momentum signals a renewed relevance for Oracle in the tech world—particularly as companies race to build out AI-powered platforms. Oracle’s edge lies in its strong enterprise cloud offerings and recent high-profile partnerships, which have boosted investor confidence.
Despite Bloomberg still ranking him as the third-richest individual, Forbes’ real-time data reflects Ellison’s current market advantage. His latest ascent underscores the impact of corporate performance on personal fortunes in an age where tech stock fluctuations can create or erase billions overnight. Ellison, once known primarily as a database magnate, is now at the forefront of the AI revolution alongside other major players like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Ellison’s resurgence is also a testament to his long-term vision for Oracle, which has transitioned from a traditional enterprise software provider into a key contender in the cloud and AI markets. At 80 years old, Ellison continues to shape Oracle’s strategic direction while also maintaining a major presence in Silicon Valley. As Oracle continues to benefit from the global AI boom, Ellison’s position near the top of the wealth rankings seems secure—at least for now.
