September 10, 2025 – In a remarkable twist, Oracle co-founder and CTO Larry Ellison has become the world’s richest person, overtaking Elon Musk after a staggering one-day wealth gain. This dramatic shift was triggered by Oracle’s astounding stock rally, fueled by strong AI-driven quarterly results.
A Historic Wealth Leap
Ellison’s net worth leaped by approximately $101 billion, setting a record for the largest single-day increase in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index’s history. His total fortune now stands at around $393–$395 billion, surpassing Musk’s estimated wealth of $384–$385 billion.
Why Oracle’s Stock Soared
Oracle’s share price soared between 40% and 45%, after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly results. The surge is attributed to multiple multi-billion-dollar AI cloud contracts with leading firms, and its critical role in AI infrastructure initiatives including OpenAI and xAI.
Wealth Components Behind Ellison’s Rise
Ellison owns approximately 1.16 billion shares—around 41% of Oracle—making his wealth particularly sensitive to stock movements.
How the Billionaire Rankings Shifted
Elon Musk had dominated the rankings for nearly a year. But with this dramatic surge, Ellison now leads, cooling the long-standing rivalry between the two tech titans.
Key Takeaways
| Insight | Details |
|---|---|
| Largest wealth gain ever | Ellison’s ~$101B jump smashed previous records. |
| Oracle’s AI-driven boost | Cloud and AI growth, backed by huge contracts, fueled investor confidence. |
| Shift at the top | Musk slips to second place as Ellison claims the top spot. |
| Wealth closely tied to stock | Ellison’s fortune remains highly volatile due to concentrated ownership in Oracle. |
Why This Matters
- Symbolic of tech and AI-driven market dynamics: Ellison’s rise highlights how swiftly fortunes can shift amid rapid developments in AI and cloud computing.
- Impact on investor sentiment and market valuation: Oracle’s renewed dominance as a cloud and AI leader signals shifting tides in the tech industry.