Larry Ellison fortune is one of the most fascinating stories in the business world. The Oracle co-founder and chairman has built an estimated $365 billion net worth by defying nearly every rule of conventional wealth management. Instead of selling shares to diversify, Ellison has held on to his Oracle stock for nearly five decades, borrowing billions against it to fund a luxurious lifestyle, major acquisitions, philanthropy, and media ventures — all while maintaining control of his company.
A Fortune Built on Oracle Shares
Larry Ellison owns roughly 1.16 billion shares of Oracle — representing about 41% of the company’s outstanding stock as of July 2025. This makes him the single largest shareholder among the world’s tech billionaires. For comparison:
- Elon Musk owns less than 20% of Tesla
- Mark Zuckerberg owns about 14% of Meta
- Jeff Bezos owns just 8% of Amazon after heavy selling in recent years
Ellison’s decision to hold onto Oracle shares has been the primary driver of his $365 billion net worth. While he has sold some stock over the years — netting around $5.1 billion, mostly to exercise options or pay taxes — those sales are minimal compared to his overall stake.
What’s remarkable is that Ellison’s stake has grown in percentage terms thanks to Oracle’s aggressive share buyback program, which has reduced outstanding shares by 36% over the last 15 years. His holding has risen from 23% of Oracle in 2010 to 41% today, even without major new purchases.
How Larry Ellison Spends Billions Without Selling
Despite holding on to his Oracle stake, Ellison is known for his lavish spending habits. His portfolio of assets rivals that of a small country:
- Real Estate: Dozens of luxury properties across the U.S., including the Hawaiian island of Lanai, a 62,200-square-foot mansion in Manalapan, Florida (bought for $173 million), and the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa ($277 million).
- Sports & Leisure: Ownership of the Indian Wells tennis tournament, a 288-foot mega-yacht, and a fleet of vintage fighter jets.
- Media Investments: His son David Ellison’s Skydance Media recently acquired Paramount for $8 billion, and the Ellison family is reportedly backing a $70+ billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Tech & Startups: Investments in Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) and several longevity and biotech ventures.
This extraordinary spending power comes from borrowing against his Oracle shares rather than selling them. SEC filings show Ellison has pledged about 277 million Oracle shares — worth more than $82 billion — as collateral for personal loans.
The Power and Risk of Borrowing Against Shares
Borrowing against shares is a strategy many wealth managers advise against, especially at this scale. If Oracle’s stock price fell sharply, Ellison could face margin calls that might force him to sell shares at depressed prices.
However, Oracle’s board has stated that Ellison’s borrowing does not pose a “material risk” to shareholders because the loans are secured by personal assets and used for outside ventures.
Michael Sury, a finance professor at the University of Texas at Austin, calls Ellison’s level of pledged shares “off the charts,” but notes that his unique wealth and influence make banks more willing to extend credit.
Larry Ellison Fortune vs. Other Tech Billionaires
Most tech CEOs follow a safer, more diversified approach to wealth. Oracle CEO Safra Catz, for example, regularly sells vested options through a pre-scheduled 10b5-1 plan, cashing out $2.5 billion worth of stock in the first half of 2025 alone.
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg also sell shares regularly — either to fund other ventures, pay taxes, or diversify their portfolios. Ellison, by contrast, is taking a concentrated bet that Oracle’s long-term value will continue to rise.
Philanthropy and the Giving Pledge
Larry Ellison is also a signatory of The Giving Pledge, committing to donate most of his wealth to charity. He has contributed hundreds of millions to health research and last year announced that much of his giving would be directed toward the Ellison Institute of Technology, a partnership with the University of Oxford focusing on climate change, disease, and global hunger.
He has even ventured into college athletics philanthropy, funding a reported $10 million NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deal for a University of Michigan football recruit.
A Risky but Visionary Wealth Strategy
Ellison’s approach — holding and borrowing rather than selling — is unusual but has worked spectacularly. His fortune is highly sensitive to Oracle’s stock price, but the leverage has allowed him to maintain control of the company, fund outside investments, and live one of the most extravagant lifestyles on earth.
As private bankers and wealth managers point out, there is no single “right way” to manage a massive fortune. Larry Ellison’s fortune is a testament to the power of concentration, conviction, and risk tolerance. For investors and entrepreneurs, his story is a reminder that sometimes breaking the rules can create not just wealth — but a financial empire.
Source: CNBC
