In a dramatic and historic shift atop the global wealth leaderboard, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison has officially surpassed Tesla CEO Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person. The milestone, reached on September 10, 2025, marks the first time Ellison, age 81, has claimed the coveted spot, capping a remarkable run fueled by Oracle’s explosive growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) cloud infrastructure sector.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ellison’s net worth catapulted to $393 billion, eclipsing Musk’s $385 billion. The surge was nothing short of extraordinary: Ellison’s fortune swelled by $101 billion in a single day, the largest one-day wealth increase ever recorded by the index. This leap was driven by Oracle’s blockbuster earnings report and an unprecedented rally in the company’s stock price—up as much as 43% during intraday trading before closing 36% higher, the steepest one-day gain since 1992 (Economic Times).
Ellison’s wealth is deeply tied to Oracle, the company he helped found in 1977 and where he remains executive chairman and chief technology officer. He owns more than 40% of Oracle’s outstanding shares, making his fortune closely mirror the company’s market performance (Bloomberg). As Oracle’s stock has doubled year-to-date, Ellison’s personal wealth has soared alongside it.
The catalyst for Oracle’s meteoric rise? The company’s aggressive push into AI-driven cloud computing. Oracle announced it had secured several multi-billion-dollar contracts in its most recent quarter, expected to yield a staggering $455 billion in revenue—a fourfold increase from the previous year (Wall Street Journal). Notably, OpenAI agreed to purchase $300 billion worth of computing power from Oracle over five years, one of the largest cloud deals ever inked. Other major AI customers include Meta, xAI, Nvidia, and AMD, further cementing Oracle’s position as a key player in the infrastructure powering the AI revolution (Economic Times).
Chief Executive Safra Catz captured the mood during an earnings call, stating, “The bullish outlook has launched Oracle firmly into the elite group of cloud-computing titans battling it out in the race for AI supremacy.” Bank of America analysts echoed this sentiment, upgrading Oracle’s stock to “buy” and describing the company as “a key AI enabler” with an “exceptional backlog.”
Oracle’s ambitious forecast projects its cloud infrastructure revenue to grow from $10.3 billion in fiscal 2025 to $144 billion by 2030. Its market capitalization now stands at $922 billion, making it the 12th most valuable company globally and putting it within striking distance of the likes of Tesla ($1.1 trillion) and Berkshire Hathaway ($1.06 trillion) (Economic Times).
Ellison’s rise to the top is not just about numbers—it’s a testament to his enduring influence and Oracle’s transformation from a database pioneer to a potential AI superpower. Even at 81, Ellison continues to shape the company’s innovation strategy, steering research and product development while remaining deeply involved in its long-term direction. As Forbes noted, “His rise highlights his enduring influence in the tech world and the extraordinary growth of Oracle Corporation.”
Oracle’s success is part of a broader technology gold rush centered not on consumer products or social media, but on the computing backbone of artificial intelligence. The company’s participation in U.S. government AI initiatives, such as Project Stargate, and its collaboration with leading AI developers like OpenAI and SoftBank, have further elevated its profile (iNDICA News).
Ellison himself has been outspoken about the transformative potential of AI. He has publicly envisioned a future where AI-driven technology enables continuous monitoring and reporting, potentially shaping public behavior and societal norms. This vision is rapidly becoming central to Oracle’s strategy as it expands its AI footprint and positions itself at the forefront of the next wave of technological innovation.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk—who had dominated global wealth rankings for nearly a year—has seen his fortune slip amid challenges at Tesla. The electric vehicle giant’s shares are down 13% year-to-date, with its U.S. market share at its lowest point since 2017 (Reuters). Weak demand and political headwinds have contributed to a 14% decline in Tesla’s share price in 2025, dragging Musk’s net worth down and ending his reign at the top (iNDICA News). Tesla remains the 10th most valuable company in the world, but with Oracle’s momentum, even that ranking could come under threat.
Despite the setback, Musk remains a formidable contender in the billionaire ranks. Last week, Tesla’s board proposed a pay package that, if Musk achieves a series of ambitious goals—such as increasing the company’s stock eightfold over the next decade—could make him the world’s first trillionaire (Bloomberg). The rivalry between Ellison and Musk, two titans of the tech industry, highlights the volatility and dynamism of global wealth in an era defined by rapid technological change.
Oracle’s recent performance has also boosted investor confidence, with shares having already climbed 45% in 2025 even before the latest rally. The company’s market valuation reached $947 billion as of September 10, 2025, reflecting growing belief in Oracle’s role as a major force in AI development (iNDICA News).
Looking ahead, the stakes remain high. The world’s most valuable companies are still dominated by tech heavyweights—Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta—but Oracle’s ascent signals a shift in the balance of power. As the AI arms race intensifies, the infrastructure providers enabling this transformation are poised to reap enormous rewards.
For Larry Ellison, the journey from database pioneer to AI superpower has culminated in an unprecedented personal and corporate triumph. For Elon Musk, the dramatic reshuffling at the top serves as a reminder that even the world’s richest are not immune to the wild swings of the market. In the end, the story of Ellison’s rise is as much about the relentless pace of innovation as it is about individual fortune—a snapshot of a tech industry, and a world, in rapid and unpredictable motion.
