At the close of trading on 10/9, software giant Oracle's stock soared by 36%, its most significant single-day gain since 1992. This surge propelled Chairman Larry Ellison's fortune up 94.5 billion USD to 387 billion USD, according to Forbes.

However, the stock's momentum didn't hold, declining by 4.6% at the opening of trading on 11/9. Forbes estimated Ellison's wealth at 372 billion USD, still securing his position as the world's second-richest person. The gap between him and the top spot, held by Elon Musk, continues to shrink. According to Forbes, Musk's net worth stands at 438 billion USD, exceeding Ellison's by 66 billion USD. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reported an even narrower margin of just 1 billion USD at the close of 10/9.

Ellison's journey to success has been marked by challenges. Born in 1944 in the Bronx (New York, USA) to a single mother, he was adopted by relatives at 9 months old. His adoptive father, a Russian immigrant, struggled financially. After his adoptive mother's death, Ellison dropped out of university and relocated to Berkeley (California), near the burgeoning Silicon Valley. He took on various jobs, including roles at Wells Fargo and Amdahl, honing his computer and programming skills. Ellison once remarked that he possessed "all the disadvantages required for success."

Oracle Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison at the British Formula One Grand Prix. Photo: Reuters

Oracle Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison at the British Formula One Grand Prix. Photo: Reuters

In 1977, along with Bob Miner and Ed Oates, he founded Software Development Laboratories. They secured a contract with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to build a database called "Oracle." Five years later, the company adopted the name Oracle and went public in 1986.

Oracle faced near-bankruptcy, losing market share to competitors. However, the company persevered and became a prominent name in the tech world. Over four decades, Oracle achieved remarkable success, acquiring rivals like PeopleSoft, Sun Microsystems, and BEA Systems.

Recently, Oracle has benefited from the surge in demand for data centers from AI enterprises. On 9/9, Oracle announced four billion-dollar contracts signed this quarter, with more anticipated in the coming months.

Ellison has held various leadership positions at Oracle. He currently serves as Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, having been CEO for 37 years before stepping down in 2014.

Upon his return to Apple in 1997, Steve Jobs invited Ellison to join the board, but he declined. Since 2010, Ellison has gradually reduced his involvement in the company's operations.

Beyond work, Ellison has a passion for real estate, once dubbed "America's most enthusiastic home buyer" with millions of dollars invested in properties worldwide. In 2012, he acquired 98% of Lana’i, the sixth-largest Hawaiian island, for nearly 300 million USD. This is the same island where Bill Gates married his former wife, Melinda. At the time, Ellison's net worth was 36 billion USD, according to CNN.

A yachting enthusiast, Ellison backed Oracle Team USA, which staged a comeback to win and defend the America's Cup in 2013. The team disbanded in 2017.

In 2018, Ellison co-founded SailGP, a high-speed catamaran racing league attracting prominent investors. He also revived the Indian Wells tennis tournament in California, often referred to as the "fifth Grand Slam."

Ellison is also involved in politics, contributing millions of dollars to Republican and conservative groups. He has recently developed close ties with former President Donald Trump. In January, he appeared at the White House alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, as Trump announced a new company to develop AI infrastructure in the USA.

The Oracle billionaire is also a philanthropist. In 2016, he announced a 200 million USD grant to the University of Southern California to establish a cancer research and treatment center.

In 2010, he signed the Giving Pledge, an initiative launched by Bill Gates, promising to donate at least 95% of his wealth to charity. Recently, Ellison announced on X that he is "adjusting" this pledge, directing some funds to a technology institute he co-founded with Oxford University. Named the Ellison Institute of Technology, it will focus on healthcare reform, combating hunger, and addressing climate change.

Ellison's life has been defined by risk-taking. He once stated, "When people start telling you you're crazy, you know you're probably onto the greatest thing you'll ever do." He also resonates with a quote from Genghis Khan: "It is not sufficient that I succeed. All others must fail.".

Ha Thu (CNN, Reuters)