Larry Ellison and his wife: How the 82-year-old Silicon Valley billionaire genius is changing the game

In the fall of 2025, Larry Ellison did something that seemed impossible – he took the crown as the richest person in the world. His wife, Jolin Zhu, nearly half a century younger than him, became his partner in this new era of his life. In one day, his wealth increased by over $100 billion, reaching a peak of $393 billion and dethroning the long-time market favorite – Elon Musk.

But what’s truly astonishing isn’t just the amount, but the journey Larry Ellison took to reach this peak. From an abandoned child by fate, through several failed studies, to a businessman who first lost, then disappeared from the radar, and later made a spectacular comeback in the era of artificial intelligence. This isn’t a story of a winner from the start – it’s a story of a man who knew how to reinvent himself.

From Orphan to Empire Architect: How It All Began

Born in 1944 in the Bronx ghetto, Larry Ellison started life as a troubled child. His teenage mother couldn’t care for him, so at just nine months old, he was placed in the care of his aunt in Chicago. His adoptive father, an ordinary clerk, had limited means. Despite these tough beginnings, the ambitious boy got into the University of Illinois – but dropped out after his mother’s death. He then tried the University of Chicago, where he lasted only one semester.

Instead of fighting within academic walls, Ellison chose a more rebellious path. He worked as a freelance programmer, traveled across the United States, until he finally arrived in Berkeley, California – a symbol of independence and technological revolution.

The breakthrough came at Ampex Corporation in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There, working on data management systems for the CIA (project codenamed “Oracle”), Ellison realized something fundamental: the world needed universal databases. In 1977, he co-founded Software Development Laboratories with Bob Miner and Ed Oates, investing just $2,000 (himself contributing $1,200). The product’s name directly referenced the CIA project – “Oracle.”

Oracle debuted on NASDAQ in 1986 as a star rising in enterprise software. Ellison didn’t invent database technology – but he saw its business potential and bet everything on it.

From Tradition Leader to AI Dark Horse: The Secret of a Late Victory

For forty years, Oracle experienced ups and downs. Under Ellison’s leadership (who held nearly every role – from CEO to chairman), the company dominated the database market. But when Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure launched their cloud services, Oracle appeared sluggish and lagging behind.

The turning point came in 2025. In the third quarter, Oracle signed four contracts worth billions, including a $300 billion five-year deal with OpenAI. Its stock soared – a 40% increase in one day, the biggest since 1992. What happened?

Ellison and his team realized that although they lost the general cloud race, they possessed something more valuable in the AI era – infrastructure, databases, experience handling massive data, and deep relationships with corporate clients. Oracle wasn’t an AI pioneer, but it became an essential architect of AI. The company transformed from a “traditional software producer” into an “AI infrastructure giant.” It was a second chance – and this time, Ellison didn’t waste it.

The Ellison Family: From Silicon Valley to Hollywood

Larry Ellison’s wealth is no longer just a personal legend – it’s a family empire spanning the global business scene.

His son, David Ellison, recently made a deal that changed the family’s trajectory. For $8 billion, he acquired Paramount Global – owner of CBS and MTV. Six of the eight billion come from family funds. Larry Ellison, as a tech investor, has moved into Hollywood. The father rules Silicon Valley, the son runs a film studio – together building an empire that combines technology and media.

On the political front, Ellison is also active. Since 2015, he has supported the Republican Party – funding Marco Rubio’s campaign, and in 2022, donating $15 million to Senator Tim Scott’s super PAC. In January 2025, he appeared at the White House with leaders from SoftBank and OpenAI, announcing plans to build a half-billion-dollar AI data center network. Oracle’s technology was a key part of this infrastructure – it’s not just business, but also an extension of influence.

Four Marriages, One Passion: Larry Ellison’s World with Jolin Zhu

Luxury and discipline, adventure and passion – these seemingly contradictory traits coexist in Larry Ellison. His wife, Jolin Zhu, born in Shenyang, China, and a graduate of the University of Michigan, is just 47 years younger than him. In 2024, he quietly married her, again making his personal life a subject of public speculation. The internet jokes that Ellison loves ocean waves – but even more, he loves falling in love. For him, water and love are equally captivating.

In Ellison’s four marriages, you see a man who never could accept monotony. His sailor wife, his philanthropist wife, his wife from China – each chapter of his personal life seems to be another experiment.

Hawaiian estate on Lanai (which owns 98% of its land), residences in California, some of the best yachts – this isn’t ordinary luxury. It’s an expression of his connection to nature, water, and infinity.

Fading Discipline: Sports, Health, and Youth at 82

One of Larry Ellison’s greatest secrets is his obsession with health and sports. In the 1990s and 2000s, he spent several hours daily on training. He rarely drank sugary beverages – only water and green tea. His diet was strictly controlled.

In 1992, he nearly died in a surfing accident, but that didn’t stop him. Later, he turned to sailing – supporting Oracle Team USA’s spectacular comeback in the 2013 America’s Cup, one of the most memorable victories in sailing history. His SailGP league, founded in 2018, attracts global investors – from actress Anne Hathaway to footballer Kylian Mbappé.

Tennis became his next passion. He revitalized the historic Indian Wells tournament in California, now called the “fifth Grand Slam.” This combination of sport, discipline, and constant movement keeps Ellison energetic at 82, making him look twenty years younger than his peers.

Philanthropy on His Own Terms: Ellison’s Vision for the Future

In 2010, Larry Ellison signed the famous “Giving Pledge,” committing to donate at least 95% of his wealth to charity. But unlike Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, he rarely participates in collective philanthropic initiatives. As he said: “I value solitude and don’t want to be influenced by others’ ideas.”

In 2016, he donated $200 million to the University of Southern California for cancer research. Recently, he announced collaboration with Oxford University to establish the Ellison Institute of Technology, focusing on research in medicine, agriculture, and clean energy.

His philanthropy is personal and unconventional – Ellison doesn’t like to serve on committees; he prefers to design the future himself, according to his beliefs.

Summary: When a Legend Doesn’t Know Retirement

At 82, Larry Ellison achieved what many thought impossible – he returned to the top of the world’s billionaires. A man who started as an abandoned orphan, worked on secret CIA projects, lost in the cloud computing race – now he’s winning again, this time in the AI era.

His new wife, Jolin Zhu, is proof that Larry Ellison never could stay in one place, never accepted the status quo. That’s who he is – a rebel who is now once again the most powerful.

Wealth, power, four marriages, sports, business empires, and philanthropic commitments – his life has never lacked drama. The new crownholder of billionaires may change tomorrow, Oracle might lose its position again. But right now, Larry Ellison has proven to the world: in the age of AI, the old guard of tech giants still has teeth. And his wife, half his age, will be by his side in every twist of this crazy story.