Larry Ellison surpasses Zuckerberg's wealth, now ranks as the second wealthiest individual globally, trailing only Elon Musk.
Oracle, the American multinational computer technology corporation, has made a dramatic ascent in the AI infrastructure sector, thanks to its significant partnership with OpenAI. This partnership, announced in early 2025, has seen Oracle rent an additional 4.5 gigawatts of data center power capacity from Oracle, a deal valued at $30 billion annually, and a cornerstone of the broader “Stargate” AI infrastructure initiative.
The Stargate project, a $500 billion effort to build next-generation AI data centers across the United States, positions Oracle as a primary infrastructure partner for OpenAI, alongside other major investors. This partnership is not just about scale; it signals Oracle’s critical role in supporting the development of advanced AI models, including potential artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The demand from OpenAI has forced Oracle to rapidly expand its data center footprint, considering new locations in Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and others.
This strategic pivot by Oracle into AI, fueled by the OpenAI deal and similar cloud contracts, has driven an unprecedented rally in its stock price. Since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, Oracle’s shares have nearly tripled, with a 90% surge in just the last three months. This boom is directly linked to investor enthusiasm for AI infrastructure and Oracle’s positioning as a backbone for leading AI firms.
Larry Ellison, Oracle’s co-founder and largest shareholder, holds approximately 40% of the company’s stock. As Oracle’s market capitalization has soared, so has Ellison’s net worth. In July 2025, he surpassed Mark Zuckerberg to become the world’s second-richest person, with a net worth of $251.2 billion. This surge includes a $60 billion gain in 2025 alone, primarily due to the appreciation of his Oracle stake.
In summary, Oracle’s partnership with OpenAI, centred on the $30 billion annual Stargate data centre deal, has been the primary catalyst for the company’s explosive growth in the AI era. This, in turn, has propelled Larry Ellison’s personal fortune to historic heights, making him the second-richest person in the world as Oracle’s stock soars on the back of AI-driven demand. The deal not only underscores Oracle’s strategic pivot but also highlights how infrastructure providers are becoming indispensable in the global AI arms race, with Ellison as a major beneficiary.
References: [1] VentureBeat (2025). Oracle to power OpenAI's Stargate project with 4.5GW of data center capacity. [online] Available at: https://venturebeat.com/2025/02/01/oracle-to-power-openais-stargate-project-with-4-5gw-of-data-center-capacity/
[2] CNBC (2025). Oracle stock soars as the company becomes a key player in AI infrastructure. [online] Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/01/oracle-stock-soars-as-the-company-becomes-a-key-player-in-ai-infrastructure.html
[3] The Information (2025). Oracle lands $30 billion deal with OpenAI as part of Stargate project. [online] Available at: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/oracle-lands-30-billion-deal-with-openai-as-part-of-stargate-project
[4] Forbes (2025). Larry Ellison overtakes Mark Zuckerberg to become the world's second-richest person. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisryan/2025/07/01/larry-ellison-overtakes-mark-zuckerberg-to-become-the-worlds-second-richest-person/?sh=5d1a949e6933
What is the significance of the $30 billion annual data center deal between Oracle and OpenAI for Oracle's business and finance, considering their strategic pivot into AI infrastructure?This partnership has not only boosted Oracle's growth in the AI era but also elevated Larry Ellison's net worth, making him the second-richest person in the world as Oracle's stock soars, signifying the crucial role of infrastructure providers in the global AI arms race.
