Larry Ellison

Oracle Corporation Founded

Co-founded Software Development Laboratories (later Oracle) with Bob Miner and Ed Oates. Started developing the first commercially available relational database management system.

Oracle IPO Success

Oracle went public, making Ellison a multimillionaire. The company's database software was rapidly becoming the industry standard, positioning Oracle for explosive growth.

Internet Database Leader

Oracle positioned itself as the database for the internet age, with revenue surpassing $4 billion. Ellison became known for his aggressive business tactics and fierce competition with Microsoft.

Dot-com Boom Peak

Briefly became the world's richest person during the dot-com bubble. Oracle's stock soared as enterprises adopted database technology, though the bubble burst would soon follow.

Sun Microsystems Acquisition

Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems for $7.4 billion, gaining Java and hardware capabilities. This strategic move expanded Oracle's reach beyond databases into complete enterprise solutions.

Transition to CTO Role

Stepped down as CEO after 37 years but remained as CTO and executive chairman. His leadership had built Oracle into one of the world's largest software companies.

Cloud Computing Push

Oracle aggressively expanded into cloud services under Ellison's technical leadership. His wealth surged as the company competed with Amazon and Microsoft in cloud infrastructure.

Tech Titan Status

Ranks among the world's richest people with a net worth of $140 billion. As Oracle's CTO and executive chair, he remains a dominant force in technology, known globally for his business empire, real estate holdings, and America's Cup sailing team.