Unveiling the enigmatic figure behind Silicon Valley and Wall Street's reign: Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison, born in August 1944, embarked on a journey that would lead him to co-found one of the world's most successful technology companies. In 1977, he started Software Development Laboratories (SDL), later renamed Relational Software Inc., with a modest investment of $1,200.
In the same year, Ellison married Nancy Wheeler Jenkins. However, their marriage was short-lived, ending in 1978. Jenkins gave up her SDL shares for $500.
In 1983, significant changes were on the horizon. SDL rebranded as Oracle Systems Corporation, and Ellison tied the knot with Barbara Boothe, a former receptionist at Oracle's early version. The same year, they launched Oracle version 2. Ellison's marriage to Boothe ended in 1986, and they had two children, David and Megan, who are now film producers.
Oracle Systems Corporation faced financial difficulties in 1990 due to accounting errors. However, Ellison's tenacity and innovation helped the company recover. In a remarkable turn of events, Ellison made Oracle better when IBM refused to share their error codes.
Ellison stepped down as CEO of Oracle in 2014 but remained as the executive chairman and chief technology officer. During his tenure, he acquired several companies through Oracle, most notably making large investments and agreements in cloud computing and AI. One such notable agreement was a $300 billion contract with OpenAI for AI data centers.
Throughout his career, Ellison has been married several times. After his marriage to Boothe, he married Melanie Craft, a romance novelist, in 2003. The marriage lasted until 2010. Ellison married Nikita Kahn, a Ukrainian-American model, until 2020. By 2024, he married Jolin (Keren) Ellison, a University of Michigan grad.
Ellison's personal life reflects his professional one - filled with resilience and determination. He is known for his disciplined lifestyle, stating, "I can't stand anything that clouds my mind." He does not drink or use drugs.
In addition to his business ventures, Ellison has also ventured into the world of automobiles. He owns an Audi R8, a McLaren F1, a Lexus LFA, and his favourite car, the Acura NSX, which he gave away every year during its production.
As of late 2022, Ellison owned 42.9% of Oracle. He also joined Tesla's board in 2018 and held 1.4% of Tesla by August 2022. In 2024, Ellison co-founded Project Ronin, a health-tech startup, but it collapsed by the same year.
Ellison's story is a testament to his vision, resilience, and innovative spirit. Despite the ups and downs, he continues to make significant contributions to the tech industry.
