Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison momentarily overtook Elon Musk as the richest person in the world this week, according to data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The 81-year-old tech magnate saw his net worth rise to $393 billion, eclipsing Musk’s $385 billion, as shares of Oracle surged on the back of strong cloud infrastructure performance and high-profile AI contracts.
The rise in Ellison’s wealth was fueled by a dramatic spike in Oracle’s stock price, which jumped more than 40% following a bullish outlook in its latest quarterly earnings report. The gains, however, moderated later in the day, and Musk regained the top spot before market close.
This fleeting change at the summit of global wealth rankings comes amid shifting investor sentiment in the tech sector, where companies deeply involved in cloud computing and artificial intelligence are experiencing significant valuation jumps.
Oracle’s AI-Fueled Surge
Oracle’s stock rally stemmed from investor optimism over its growing role in the AI and cloud infrastructure market. The company disclosed that its cloud division is projected to grow 77% this year, with estimated revenue hitting $18 billion. CEO Safra Catz emphasized that Oracle has recently signed four multibillion-dollar contracts, with more expected in the near term.
According to Oracle, there has been a surge in demand from AI firms seeking data center infrastructure, positioning the company as a key beneficiary in the race to build and scale AI applications. This momentum has placed Oracle in a strong position to compete with cloud giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
Oracle’s transformation from a legacy software provider into a modern cloud powerhouse is now being recognized by investors, with analysts highlighting its strong hybrid cloud strategy and vertical industry focus as key differentiators.
Ellison’s Tech Empire and Political Ties
Larry Ellison, who co-founded Oracle in 1977, served as the company’s CEO until 2014 and now holds the roles of Chairman and Chief Technology Officer. Over the decades, he has built a reputation not only as a tech visionary but also as a businessman with a taste for high-profile ventures and political alignment with Donald Trump.
Ellison’s proximity to Trump has increasingly drawn attention. In January, shortly after Trump’s return to the White House, Ellison appeared alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son to launch Project Stargate—an ambitious effort to bolster AI infrastructure within the United States. The initiative was framed as a strategic move to secure U.S. leadership in AI, countering the technological ascendancy of rivals such as China.
This alignment with the Trump administration has placed Ellison at the center of both business and political headlines, particularly as Oracle has been floated as a potential buyer for TikTok, the popular social media app owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance. The app faces potential banning in the U.S. unless it cuts ties with its Chinese parent.
Trump, when asked about the possibility of Musk acquiring TikTok, expressed support for Ellison, saying: “I’d like Larry to buy it, too.”
Media Interests: The Paramount Deal
Ellison’s ambitions aren’t limited to tech. He has ventured aggressively into the media landscape. Most notably, he bankrolled the majority of an $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global by media firm Skydance, controlled by his son, David Ellison. The deal, which closed last month, brings a storied portfolio—including CBS, MTV, and Paramount Pictures—under the Skydance umbrella.
This move represents a strategic expansion of Ellison’s influence in media and entertainment, complementing Oracle’s expanding digital infrastructure portfolio. Observers say the acquisition positions the Ellison family as a new power center in Hollywood, with the potential to reshape the future of content creation and distribution.
Musk’s Volatile Fortune
Elon Musk, despite the brief dip in his ranking, remains a central figure in the global tech landscape. His wealth is primarily tied to Tesla, the electric vehicle giant that has seen its share price decline in 2025 amid a complex set of challenges.
Tesla is facing pressure from shifting U.S. policies around electric vehicle incentives. The rollback of certain green energy policies under the Trump administration has made investors uneasy. On top of that, Musk’s growing political involvement and controversial public stances have sparked consumer backlash, further weighing on the company’s valuation.
Even so, Musk remains poised to potentially receive a trillion-dollar compensation package—contingent upon Tesla meeting a series of aggressive performance targets. The package, if realized, would be the largest of its kind in corporate history, although it has also drawn scrutiny from shareholders and regulators.
The Bigger Picture in Tech Wealth
The brief reshuffling of the wealth rankings between Musk and Ellison underscores broader shifts in the tech sector. While electric vehicles remain a key area of innovation, investor enthusiasm has clearly pivoted toward AI, cloud computing, and data infrastructure—areas where Oracle is making major strides.
Other billionaires in the top ten, such as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and LVMH’s Bernard Arnault, have also seen fluctuations in net worth due to broader market movements and industry-specific developments. But none has benefited from the AI-fueled rally quite as dramatically as Larry Ellison.
His re-emergence at the top of the global wealth list—albeit temporary—marks a symbolic victory for legacy tech firms that have successfully reinvented themselves in the era of artificial intelligence. Oracle’s ability to pivot and adapt to the evolving demands of enterprise IT and AI infrastructure appears to be paying off in both market valuation and executive wealth.
Outlook for Oracle and Ellison
Oracle’s future trajectory will depend on its ability to maintain momentum in the cloud and AI infrastructure segments. With multi-year contracts already signed and several more anticipated, the company is well-positioned to expand its footprint among large enterprise clients and AI startups alike.
Ellison’s influence—both within Oracle and across other ventures—is likely to grow. As Oracle positions itself as a key enabler of the AI revolution, Ellison’s strategic decisions will continue to shape not only the company’s path but also the broader tech landscape.
Meanwhile, the competition among tech billionaires for the top spot in global wealth rankings remains intense. With fortunes tethered to volatile stock prices and geopolitical trends, the leaderboard may continue to fluctuate as companies navigate the shifting sands of innovation and regulation.
Larry Ellison’s brief ascent to the pinnacle of the world’s wealthiest individuals reflects more than just stock market swings—it signals the rising value of AI and cloud infrastructure in today’s economy. As Oracle cements its role as a key player in powering the next generation of digital services, Ellison’s influence—and wealth—will likely continue to command global attention.
