In a surprising turn on global wealth rankings, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison briefly overtook Elon Musk to become the richest man in the world this week. A surge in Oracle’s stock price sent Ellison’s fortune soaring nearly $90 billion in a single day, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
By market close on Wednesday, Ellison’s net worth had jumped to an estimated $383 billion, narrowly trailing Musk’s $384 billion fortune. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, long regarded as the richest person in the world, managed to hold onto the title — but the shift underscores just how volatile the wealth rankings of the richest people in the world can be.
Oracle’s AI-Driven Boom
Ellison’s sudden rise in wealth was powered by Oracle’s impressive financial outlook. The company announced more than $450 billion in cloud services backlog and multibillion-dollar deals with leading AI companies, including Nvidia and OpenAI. This momentum pushed Oracle’s market valuation close to $1 trillion, solidifying Ellison’s place among the world’s richest people.
At 81, Ellison remains actively involved in the company’s vision, particularly in AI and cloud computing. He has also been expanding his influence beyond tech. His son David Ellison recently completed a takeover of Paramount Global, an $8 billion transaction partially funded by the Ellison family fortune.
Musk Holds the Top Spot — For Now
While Ellison briefly eclipsed him, Elon Musk’s net worth remains unmatched. At $384 billion, Musk continues to lead as the world’s richest man, thanks to Tesla’s rebound, SpaceX’s valuation, and his ventures in AI and social media.
For those asking “who is the richest person in the world?”, the answer today is still Musk. However, the billionaire shuffle highlights how quickly fortunes can change in the age of technology, AI investments, and global markets.
Who is Larry Ellison?
For those unfamiliar with Ellison, he co-founded Oracle in 1977 and turned it into one of the most influential tech giants in the world. Beyond business, Ellison is also known for his political connections, lavish lifestyle, and real estate holdings, including properties in Hawaii and California.
His personal life has also drawn attention. Queries like “Larry Ellison wife” and “who is Larry Ellison” frequently trend online, reflecting public curiosity about the billionaire beyond his boardroom influence. While he has been married multiple times, Ellison is currently unmarried.
The Changing Landscape of Billionaire Wealth
Behind Musk and Ellison sit other tech titans — Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Together, this group defines the richest people in the world, their fortunes largely tied to the performance of the tech industry.
As Oracle, Tesla, and other companies push deeper into artificial intelligence, the competition for the world’s richest person title is expected to remain fierce. Investors and analysts alike are closely watching whether Ellison can once again surpass Musk in the coming months.
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