Larry Ellison: Biography, Age, Wife, Education, Career and Net Worth

This article covers Larry Ellison’s life and his career, family, business, and life beyond business.

Larry Ellison is one of the most influential figures in the technology industry and the co-founder of Oracle Corporation. His journey from an adopted child and college dropout to one of the world’s richest people is a remarkable story of ambition, risk-taking and persistence.

Lawrence Joseph Ellison was born on August 17, 1944, in New York City, making him 82 years old in 2026. His biological mother was Florence Spellman, but Ellison was raised by his aunt and uncle, Lillian and Louis Ellison, who adopted him. He grew up in Chicago’s South Side in a working-class household. The death of his adoptive mother while he was in college had a major impact on him and contributed to his decision to leave university.

Ellison attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was recognised as a talented student. However, he dropped out following his adoptive mother’s death. He later enrolled at the University of Chicago, but left after only one semester. Ellison therefore never completed a college degree. Instead, he moved to California and developed his programming skills while working for technology companies. His experience with computers eventually led him toward the database industry.

In 1977, Ellison, along with Bob Miner and Ed Oates, founded Software Development Laboratories. The company initially focused on developing database software. One of its early projects involved creating a database for the CIA, which used the project name “Oracle.” Ellison recognised the enormous potential of relational databases and decided to build a commercial product around the technology.

The company was eventually renamed Oracle Corporation. Oracle went public in 1986 and grew rapidly, becoming one of the world’s leading providers of enterprise database software. Ellison’s aggressive business strategy helped Oracle expand through major acquisitions, including PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems and Sun Microsystems. After 37 years as CEO, Ellison stepped down as chief executive in 2014. He continues to serve as Oracle’s Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer.

Larry Ellison’s fortune is largely connected to his significant ownership of Oracle. His net worth fluctuates with the company’s stock price, but he remains consistently among the world’s wealthiest individuals. Forbes estimated his net worth at around $190 billion in August 2026, although his fortune can change dramatically with movements in Oracle’s share price. Ellison has also invested heavily outside Oracle. In 2012, he purchased almost the entire Hawaiian island of Lānaʻi for approximately $300 million.

Ellison has been married several times. His former wives include Adda Quinn, Nancy Wheeler Jenkins, Barbara Boothe and romance novelist Melanie Craft, whom he married in 2003 before their divorce in 2010. Ellison has two well-known children, David Ellison and Megan Ellison, both of whom became successful Hollywood producers. David became a major figure through Skydance, while Megan founded Annapurna Pictures. Ellison’s current personal life has remained relatively private, although his relationship and marriage to Jolin Zhu Ellison have received public attention.

Ellison is also known for his passion for sailing, aviation and sports. His BMW Oracle Racing team won the America’s Cup in 2010 and 2013. He has also been associated with Tesla, serving on its board of directors before leaving in 2022. Larry Ellison’s life is a classic Silicon Valley success story. He never completed college, yet built Oracle into a global technology powerhouse.

His success came from identifying the potential of database technology early, challenging established competitors, taking significant risks, and continuously adapting his company to changing technology. From an adopted child in Chicago to one of the world’s richest entrepreneurs, Ellison’s journey demonstrates how vision, persistence and calculated risk-taking can transform an unconventional beginning into extraordinary success.