Larry Ellison Surpasses Zuckerberg as World’s Second-Richest Man

Larry Ellison just leapfrogged Mark Zuckerberg on the global billionaire leaderboard. The 80-year-old Oracle founder now holds a staggering $251 billion net worth, propelled by a $60 billion gain in 2025 alone. His wealth boom is tied directly to Oracle’s aggressive expansion into AI, including a $3 billion cloud investment in Europe and its central role in Trump’s $500 billion “Stargate” initiative to dominate global AI infrastructure.

Oracle’s stock has climbed 41% year-to-date, backed by strong Q4 results and mounting demand for cloud and AI services. The company’s AI partnerships with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia are helping to solidify its relevance in a hyper-competitive tech landscape. Still, analysts remain cautious. Goldman Sachs issued a ‘neutral’ rating, warning Oracle’s heavy capital investment in low-margin AI cycles could weigh on future cash flow.

Ellison isn’t just boosting his bank account—he’s also shifting his philanthropic focus. This week, he amended his Giving Pledge to prioritize efforts through his Ellison Institute of Technology at Oxford. His stated mission? Fighting hunger, advancing healthcare, and tackling climate change through science-backed, tech-driven solutions. With Oracle’s momentum and Ellison’s ambitions aligned, his influence in both the AI and philanthropic worlds is only growing.