By Arinze Uzo
Business News Correspondent
Oracle Corporation’s co-founder and longtime technology mogul, Larry Ellison, has surged to the second spot on the global billionaires ranking, surpassing both Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in net worth. The dramatic rise is attributed largely to a sustained rally in Oracle’s stock, which has seen major gains in recent months amid a boom in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and cloud services. According to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ellison’s net worth is now estimated at over $163 billion, placing him behind only Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who retains the top position. This leap marks Ellison’s highest placement ever on the global wealth leaderboard and reflects Oracle’s increasingly vital role in the tech ecosystem. The 79-year-old tech titan has seen a significant increase in wealth thanks to Oracle’s aggressive push into AI and cloud computing. The company recently announced partnerships with OpenAI and Nvidia, positioning it as a critical provider of the computing backbone behind next-generation AI technologies. These strategic moves have not only boosted Oracle’s share price but also reinforced its relevance in a tech landscape previously dominated by Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Investors have responded enthusiastically to Oracle’s AI-driven future. The company’s recent quarterly earnings exceeded Wall Street expectations, sending shares to new highs and inflating Ellison’s holdings. As Oracle’s largest individual shareholder, Ellison’s fortune is closely tied to the company’s performance on Wall Street. Ellison’s rise coincides with fluctuations in the fortunes of other tech giants. Jeff Bezos, who stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021, has seen his wealth dip slightly amid concerns over slowing e-commerce growth and increased competition in the cloud sector. Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg, despite leading Meta’s successful pivot to AI and the metaverse, has fallen just behind Ellison in the billionaire rankings. The shift signals a broader rebalancing in tech wealth as legacy companies like Oracle evolve to meet new demands. Once seen as an older player in enterprise software, Oracle has reinvented itself under Ellison’s continued leadership and vision. This resurgence, paired with the global AI arms race, has positioned the company—and Ellison himself—as central players in tech’s next chapter. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Larry Ellison has remained actively involved in Oracle’s strategy and direction. He currently serves as the company’s chief technology officer and chairman, roles that allow him to continue shaping its technological trajectory. Known for his flamboyant personality, luxury lifestyle, and private island in Hawaii, Ellison is one of the last of Silicon Valley’s original founders still deeply engaged in day-to-day business. His recent rise to the No. 2 spot is not just a personal milestone, but a symbol of Oracle’s impressive transformation in the modern tech era. As AI continues to redefine computing, Larry Ellison’s name is once again at the forefront—this time not just as a founder, but as a frontrunner among the world’s elite billionaires.Riding the AI Wave
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