Larry Ellison

Larry J. Ellison, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Oracle Corporation, was born on August 17, 1944.

Larry Ellison showed a strong aptitude for math and science from an early age. He learned the rudiments of computer programming in Chicago and later took this skill with him to Berkeley, California.

In 1966, at the age of 22, Larry Ellison relocated to Berkeley, California, which was close to the emerging Silicon Valley. He made the journey from Chicago to California in a stylish turquoise Thunderbird, aiming to leave an impression in his new environment.

Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corporation, stepped down from the CEO position in September 2014 after leading the company for 37 years. During his tenure, Ellison transformed Oracle into one of the largest enterprise software companies globally, focusing on database software and technologies.

In 1978, Larry Ellison assumed the role of President at Oracle, a position he held until 1996. During his tenure, he played a significant role in shaping the company's direction and growth.

In 1979, Relational Software, Inc. released Oracle, the earliest commercial relational database program to use Structured Query Language (SQL), which quickly became popular for its efficient storage and quick retrieval of large amounts of data.

In 1982, Relational Software, Inc. was renamed Oracle Systems Corporation, later known as Oracle Corporation, after its flagship product Oracle. The company grew rapidly throughout the 1980s and became the largest database-management company in the world by 1987.

In 1983, Software Development Laboratories was renamed to Oracle, inspired by the early contract with the CIA for the development of the relational database management system.

In 1986, Larry Ellison took Oracle public, marking a significant milestone in the company's history.

Larry Ellison became the CEO of Oracle in 1987, marking a significant milestone in the company's history. As the sole chief executive officer for 37 years, he played a pivotal role in Oracle's development and success.

In 1990, Larry Ellison took on the role of Chairman of the Board at Oracle for the first time, serving until 1992. His leadership during this period had a notable impact on the company's strategic decisions.

In 1992, Oracle released Oracle 7, which revolutionized the market and made Larry Ellison a billionaire.

In 1994, Informix became Oracle's primary rival, surpassing Sybase in the database industry.

In 1995, Larry Ellison returned to the position of Chairman of the Board at Oracle, a role he held until 2004. His second stint as Chairman further solidified his influence within the company.

At the age of 49, Larry Ellison achieved billionaire status. His net worth is now approximately $122 billion, making him the seventh-richest person globally, with significant gains from Oracle and Tesla stock.

In 1999, Larry Ellison invested $2 million in Salesforce.com, a startup founded by his protégé Marc Benioff after he left Oracle.

In the November 20, 2000 issue of Fortune magazine, Larry Ellison was referred to as 'The Next Richest Man in the World.'

Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corporation, married romance novelist Melanie Craft on December 18, 2003, at his Woodside estate. The wedding was officiated by Representative Tom Lantos and the official photographer was Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple Inc.

In 2004, Larry Ellison conducted a hostile takeover of PeopleSoft, a company led by Aneel Bhusri. A hostile takeover involves bypassing the target company's board of directors and directly approaching shareholders to acquire the company.

In 2005, Larry Ellison agreed to settle a four-year-old insider-trading lawsuit by offering to pay $100 million to charity in Oracle's name.

In 2006, Forbes ranked Larry Ellison as the wealthiest individual in California.

In 2007, Oracle acquired Hyperion Solutions, a leading company in the business intelligence sector, to expand its market presence and offerings.

In 2008, Oracle purchased BEA, a software company, in a significant acquisition move to strengthen its position in the industry.

In the year ending May 31, 2009, Larry Ellison made $56.8 million.

On July 2, 2009, Oracle's board awarded Larry Ellison another 7 million stock options.

On August 22, 2009, it was reported that Larry Ellison would be paid only $1 for his base salary for the fiscal year of 2010, down from the $1,000,000 he was paid in fiscal 2009.

On February 14, 2010, Larry Ellison's yacht USA 17 won the second race of the 33rd America's Cup, securing a historic victory. This win marked a significant achievement in Ellison's yachting career.

On September 24, 2013, Oracle Team USA, led by Larry Ellison, emerged victorious in the 18th race of the America’s Cup sailing event against Emirates Team New Zealand in San Francisco. This win showcased Ellison's continued success in the sailing world.

On September 25, 2013, Ellison's Oracle Team USA defeated Emirates Team New Zealand to win the 34th America's Cup. The victory came after a remarkable comeback, making it a memorable event in yachting history.

Larry Ellison delivered the keynote address at the annual Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco, California.

In May 2016, Larry Ellison made a generous donation of $200 million to a cancer treatment center at the University of Southern California.

In 2017, Oracle, led by Larry Ellison, made its largest acquisition to date by purchasing the cloud-software provider NetSuite Inc. for an estimated $9 billion, expanding its presence in the tech economy.

In 2018, Larry Ellison invested approximately $1 billion to acquire 15 million shares of Tesla, Inc., becoming one of the company's major individual shareholders and joining Tesla's board of directors.

On March 13, 2020, Larry Ellison announced plans to convert his Porcupine Creek home and golf course in Rancho Mirage, California, into an exclusive resort.

Larry Ellison, the 77-year-old cofounder of Oracle, has become one of the world's richest people with a net worth of $122 billion. He is known for his diverse interests including yacht-racing, buying Hawaiian islands, and trash-talking competitors.

As of May 4, 2022, Larry Ellison was ranked 11th on the list of the wealthiest people in the world with a net worth of $124 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, bought the entire Lanai Island in Hawaii, creating his own private paradise. However, this acquisition has had negative consequences for the local residents who both rent from him and work for him.

Forbes estimates the wealthy businessman to be worth $99 billion on November 4, 2022.

As of June 10, 2023, Larry Ellison was ranked as the 5th richest person in the world with a net worth of $124 billion according to Bloomberg.

On June 11, 2023, Oracle, under Larry Ellison's leadership, achieved a market capitalization of more than $296 billion, solidifying its position as one of the world's most valuable companies.

Larry Ellison expresses his admiration for the opportunities available in the United States, highlighting the American Dream and the unlimited possibilities for success through hard work and a bit of luck.