Larry Ellison has claimed the title of the world’s richest person, overtaking Elon Musk after a staggering $101 billion gain in his net worth. This financial milestone was reached amid a blockbuster earnings report for Oracle Corp., Ellison’s data software giant, which saw its stock price surge by 34.4% in a single day on September 10, 2025.
At 81 years old, Ellison’s wealth is now estimated at approximately $393 billion, surpassing Musk, whose net worth is valued around $385 billion according to Bloomberg. This marks the first time Ellison has topped global billionaire rankings—a position Musk held for more than four years.
The sudden rise in Ellison’s fortune was largely driven by multi-billion dollar cloud contracts and continued strong demand for Oracle’s cloud infrastructure services, especially those supporting the fast-growing artificial intelligence sector. Oracle’s CEO, Safra Catz, highlighted in the earnings call a projected increase in cloud revenue from $18 billion in 2025 to an ambitious $144 billion by 2029. This accelerating momentum positions Oracle as a critical player in the AI infrastructure market, competing against major technology giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
“The demand we are seeing for Oracle’s cloud infrastructure is unprecedented,” Catz said. “Our strategic investments in AI and cloud enable us to secure multi-year contracts and expand market share rapidly.”
Musk’s Tesla shares, by contrast, have declined about 14% year-to-date, impacting his net worth despite ongoing ventures such as SpaceX, Neuralink, and the philanthropic xAI project. Tesla’s shareholders recently proposed a compensation package valued at $1 trillion tied to performance goals, potentially making Musk the first trillionaire if achieved.
Experts note that Ellison’s wealth surge reflects not only Oracle’s business strength but also the shift in the tech economy toward cloud computing and AI services. Julia Anderson, a market analyst at Capital Insights, commented, “Ellison’s rise signals a tech wealth reshuffle fueled by AI-driven infrastructure. It’s a game-changer for enterprise IT and investor confidence.”
The real-life impact of this wealth shift extends beyond rankings; Ellison’s capacity to support millions in living expenses hypothetically underscores extreme wealth concentration. For instance, $390 billion could cover the annual median income for five million U.S. households—approximately the population of Florida.
In conclusion, Larry Ellison’s rise to the top of the billionaire list represents a landmark in modern wealth accumulation, fueled by Oracle’s strategic cloud and AI growth. As tech markets evolve rapidly, new leaders emerge, reshaping economic landscapes and global wealth. Investors and analysts will watch closely how Oracle’s AI ambitions compete with Musk’s visionary projects.
