San Francisco: In a historic shift at the top of the global billionaire rankings, Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle Corporation, has overtaken Tesla CEO Elon Musk to become the world’s richest man.
Ellison’s net worth skyrocketed by an unprecedented $101 billion in a single day, marking the largest one-day wealth increase ever recorded in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His fortune now stands at $393 billion, surpassing Musk, whose wealth has slipped to $385 billion following a decline in Tesla shares.
Oracle’s record earnings power Ellison’s rise
The dramatic change was triggered by Oracle’s blockbuster earnings report, which beat market expectations with stronger quarterly results, robust bookings, and an ambitious outlook for cloud services growth.
The announcement sparked a 41% single-day rally in Oracle’s stock, the largest in the company’s history. Since Ellison holds a massive 41% stake in Oracle, the surge translated into a staggering $101 billion personal gain.
This windfall not only lifted Ellison above Musk but also underscored the strong link between corporate performance, stock markets, and billionaire wealth rankings.
Musk’s reign ends after nearly a year
For nearly a year, Elon Musk had held the top spot in global wealth rankings, driven largely by Tesla’s earlier stock surges and his ambitious projects in space exploration and AI. However, Tesla shares have declined 13% in 2025, reducing Musk’s fortune and ending his run at the summit.
Despite the setback, Musk remains a formidable contender. Tesla’s board has recently proposed a performance-based compensation plan that could make him the world’s first trillionaire, provided he achieves aggressive milestones in electric mobility, energy, and AI-driven manufacturing.
Larry Ellison: Oracle’s visionary leader
Ellison, 81, has long been a central figure in Silicon Valley. He co-founded Oracle in the late 1970s, pioneering relational database systems that revolutionised enterprise computing.
For nearly four decades, he served as Oracle’s Chief Executive Officer, overseeing its growth into one of the most powerful software companies in the world. Even after stepping down as CEO in 2014, Ellison remained closely involved in shaping Oracle’s direction as Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer.
His continued focus on cloud infrastructure and enterprise software has helped Oracle emerge as a serious challenger to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, two of the industry’s dominant players.
Oracle’s growing role in the cloud market
Ellison’s ascent highlights Oracle’s successful transformation from a traditional database company into a global force in cloud computing.
The company’s earnings report revealed accelerating demand for its cloud services, particularly in infrastructure and AI-driven applications. Analysts say Oracle is now poised to capture a larger share of the cloud market, competing directly with the industry’s biggest names.
For investors, the surge in Oracle’s stock validated years of strategic bets under Ellison’s leadership. For Ellison himself, it cemented his status as not just a tech visionary but also the wealthiest man alive.
Net worth milestones
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ellison’s fortune is now valued at $393 billion as of September 10, 2025. Musk follows closely at $385 billion.
The $101 billion leap was historic not only in scale but also in symbolism, representing how shifts in the technology sector—especially the cloud computing race—are actively reshaping global wealth rankings.
Conclusion
Larry Ellison’s rise to the top underscores the enduring power of visionary leadership in technology, even at the age of 81. His fortune, deeply tied to Oracle’s performance, reflects the growing significance of cloud computing in shaping both corporate and personal wealth.
As Oracle strengthens its global footprint, Ellison’s achievement signals not just a personal milestone but a turning point in the global tech and financial landscape.