Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corporation, has never been one to think small. But even by his own standards, his latest venture—a $1.3 billion investment to create the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) in Oxford—marks a bold new chapter in the intersection of technology, philanthropy, and cultural preservation. This ambitious project aims not only to revolutionize innovation and artificial intelligence but also to reshape the very landscape of global health, climate, and food security.
At the heart of Ellison’s vision is the sprawling EIT campus, slated to open its doors by 2027. According to The Economic Times, the facility will feature massive laboratories, supercomputing centers, and a medical clinic focused on oncology and preventive care. The architectural design is strikingly modern yet crafted to complement Oxford’s historic cityscape—a deliberate choice reflecting Ellison’s desire to blend cutting-edge science with centuries-old academic tradition.
But what exactly is the Ellison Institute of Technology? As Ellison himself explained in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the institute’s “humane endeavors include transforming healthcare by designing and distributing a new generation of life-saving drugs, combating world hunger by engineering higher-yielding crops and building a global network of low-cost indoor growing systems, and slowing climate change by developing efficient clean energy generation and storage systems.” The campus is not just a place for research; it’s a crucible for tackling some of the planet’s most pressing challenges.
One of the standout initiatives at EIT is a vaccine research program powered by artificial intelligence. The goal: to accelerate the development of vaccines and make treatments more effective, particularly for diseases that have proven stubbornly resistant to prevention. By leveraging AI, Ellison hopes to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical science, a sentiment echoed by his commitment to funding joint research and scholarships in partnership with the University of Oxford.
Ellison’s ambitions, however, extend beyond the laboratory. In a move that surprised many, he purchased The Eagle and Child pub, a historic Oxford establishment famed as the meeting place of literary giants J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. According to The Economic Times, Ellison plans a major renovation to preserve the pub’s storied legacy while transforming it into a hub for scholars and innovators. The idea is to create a space where history and innovation coexist, fostering collaboration in a setting steeped in cultural significance.
“It’s about culture, legacy, and creating a city where history and innovation coexist,” notes The Economic Times. This approach sets Ellison apart from many tech philanthropists, who often focus solely on shiny new infrastructure. By investing in Oxford’s cultural heritage, he is signaling a broader vision—one that sees the preservation of the past as inseparable from the pursuit of the future.
Ellison’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. As CNN reports, he co-founded Oracle in 1977 alongside Bob Miner and Ed Oates, initially building database software for the CIA. Over the decades, Oracle became a dominant force in enterprise software and cloud computing. Ellison, who served as CEO until 2014 and now holds the titles of executive chairman and chief technology officer, has been instrumental in steering the company through waves of technological change.
2025 marked a particularly dramatic turn in Ellison’s fortunes. Oracle’s stock soared more than 40% in a single day after the company inked a $300 billion cloud deal with OpenAI, sending Ellison’s net worth skyrocketing by $88 billion in just 24 hours. For a brief moment, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ellison became the world’s richest person, surpassing Elon Musk by about $1 billion before ending the day just shy of the top spot. His wealth stood at $383 billion, compared to Musk’s $384 billion—a staggering leap from Ellison’s $36 billion net worth in 2012.
Oracle’s meteoric rise is fueled by surging demand for its data center capacity from AI customers. The company recently announced four multibillion-dollar contracts in a single quarter, with more expected in the near future. This demand has propelled not just Oracle’s bottom line but also Ellison’s ability to fund large-scale philanthropic ventures like the EIT.
Ellison’s interests, though, are far from limited to technology. He owns 98% of Lana’i, the sixth-largest island in Hawaii, and has a well-documented passion for sailing. In 2013, his Oracle Team USA pulled off a dramatic comeback to win the America’s Cup, and in 2018, he co-founded SailGP, a high-speed catamaran racing league that has attracted celebrity investors such as Anne Hathaway and Kylian Mbappé. He also revitalized the Indian Wells tennis tournament in California, now known as the “fifth slam” among tennis aficionados.
Politics and philanthropy are other arenas where Ellison has left his mark. He has donated millions to Republican and conservative causes, including a $15 million contribution to a super PAC supporting Senator Tim Scott’s presidential ambitions in 2022 and earlier support for Marco Rubio’s campaign. In January, Ellison appeared at the White House alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son as former President Donald Trump announced a new company to expand AI infrastructure in the United States.
On the philanthropic front, Ellison’s $200 million donation to the University of Southern California in 2016 established a cancer research and treatment center. He also signed the Giving Pledge in 2010, promising to donate at least 95% of his wealth to charity. However, as CNN notes, Ellison has since “amended” that commitment, redirecting much of his giving toward the Ellison Institute of Technology. According to The New York Times, Ellison “rarely engaged with the community of Giving Pledge signers” and has “cherished his autonomy and does not want to be influenced to support” Bill Gates’ causes—a sentiment Ellison has not publicly disputed.
Through the EIT, Ellison hopes to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where brilliant minds can collaborate to solve global problems. The combination of advanced science, AI, and Oxford’s academic excellence is intended to foster discoveries that can be scaled worldwide. The campus’s modern architecture, joint research initiatives, and respect for Oxford’s heritage all signal a new model for tech-driven philanthropy—one that values both innovation and tradition.
As construction progresses and the opening date of 2027 approaches, all eyes will be on Oxford to see whether Ellison’s grand experiment can live up to its promise. Can a single institute, fueled by unprecedented private investment and a deep respect for history, truly become a global engine for change? Only time will tell, but if Ellison’s track record is any indication, the world would be wise to pay attention.
