The global billionaire rankings have taken a surprising turn, with Larry Ellison briefly overtaking Elon Musk to claim the title of the world’s richest man. The Oracle co-founder’s fortune soared to $393 billion this week after a stunning rally in Oracle shares, which have been fueled by the company’s aggressive push into cloud services and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Larry Ellison net worth temporarily eclipsed Musk’s $385 billion before Oracle stock gave back some of its gains, allowing Musk to reclaim his spot as the richest person in the world by the end of the day.
The AI Boom Boosting Larry Ellison
Much of Ellison’s wealth is tied to Oracle, the software giant he co-founded in 1977. Oracle’s shares have skyrocketed more than 40% in recent months as the company reported massive growth in its cloud infrastructure division, particularly from deals with leading AI firms. In its latest earnings report, Oracle projected a 77% surge in cloud revenue this year, reaching $18 billion, with more growth expected ahead.
Ellison, now Oracle’s chairman and chief technology officer, has also been at the forefront of high-profile AI collaborations. The company recently signed several multibillion-dollar contracts to expand data center capacity, positioning itself as a key player in the AI revolution.
This AI-driven boom temporarily pushed Ellison above Elon Musk net worth, highlighting the shifting fortunes of tech billionaires in the race for the title of richest man in the world.
Elon Musk’s Recent Struggles
While Ellison’s wealth was climbing, Elon Musk faced headwinds. Shares of Tesla, Musk’s most valuable company, have declined this year due to investor concerns about the Trump administration’s rollback of electric vehicle initiatives and consumer backlash over Musk’s political statements.
Despite this dip, Musk continues to command vast resources through Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures. Reports suggest that he could unlock a pay package worth over $1 trillion if he meets ambitious growth targets set by Tesla’s board. That package could easily cement his position as the richest person in the world for years to come.
Still, the volatility in his holdings has opened a window for rivals like Ellison to temporarily claim the top spot.
Larry Ellison Net Worth and Business Ambitions
Ellison’s fortune has grown steadily over decades, but his recent surge illustrates how market shifts tied to AI are reshaping global wealth rankings. At 81, he remains one of the most influential figures in tech, continuing to guide Oracle’s strategy while also pursuing bold ventures outside software.
Ellison has positioned himself as a close ally of President Trump, partnering with figures like Sam Altman and Masayoshi Son on “Stargate,” a multibillion-dollar AI infrastructure project in the U.S. He has also emerged in the media spotlight, funding an $8 billion bid led by his son David to acquire Paramount, which owns CBS and MTV. That deal closed recently, extending Ellison’s influence into the entertainment industry.
His wide-ranging interests—from AI to media—showcase the breadth of ambition that helped make Larry Ellison net worth one of the largest fortunes in history.
Who Is the Richest Person in the World Today?
The back-and-forth between Ellison and Musk underscores how volatile billionaire rankings have become. On one hand, Ellison’s Oracle-fueled surge highlights the rising value of cloud and AI infrastructure. On the other, Musk’s Tesla-driven wealth remains subject to swings in investor confidence and political developments.
For now, Musk has reclaimed the top spot, but the question of who is the richest person in the world may continue to fluctuate as markets respond to the rapidly changing tech landscape.
Whether it’s Ellison or Musk, both men symbolize the extraordinary concentration of wealth in the technology sector, where fortunes can rise or fall by billions of dollars in a single trading day.
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