Larry Ellison was co-founder of Oracle in 1977 and continued to engage actively in its development. Initially, Oracle gained popularity through the commercialization of SQL-based relational software. For decades Ellison led the company through a number of tactical acquisitions, including PeopleSoft, BEA Systems and Sun Microsystems. These activities strengthened the company's position in corporate software and database management.
When the cloud began to change the technology sector, Oracle reacted slowly, but Ellison allocated billions of dollars to rebuild Oracle's infrastructure to be able to compete. This change resulted erstwhile the corp signed a large, multi-annual agreement with OpenAI to supply hyperscale AI infrastructure.
A partnership whose value is estimated at around $300 billion has made Oracle an crucial player in an economy based on artificial intelligence. Ellison's financial participation – about 40% – helped increase his net assets to $370 billion and briefly placed him at the top of the global wealth ranking in 2025. His strategical decisions on artificial intelligence and infrastructure put Oracle in direct competition with companies specified as Amazon and Microsoft.
Ellison's increasing political ties strengthened Oracle's position in government and national technology strategy. He supported Senator Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential run and later, in 2024, supported Senator Tim Scott with tens of millions of dollars. Although he did not straight donate for Donald Trump's campaign, Ellison organized a fundraising for him in 2020 and later appeared at his side in the White home during Trump's second presidency.
In 2025 Trump, Ellison, president of OpenAI Sam Altman and Masayoshi boy of SoftBank jointly announced the Stargate project, supported by the government, concerning the AI infrastructure. These events were consistent with the expanded function of the company in national contracts and initiatives related to artificial intelligence.
Ellison's political visibility increased importantly during this time. His frequent presence in the White home and influence on strategical technology policy enabled him to form national decisions concerning artificial intelligence and data infrastructure.
David Ellison took control of Paramount via Skydance Media
On the another hand, David Ellison founded Skydance Media in 2010 and gradually turned it into a competitive production studio. After producing films specified as Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, he expanded his business to tv and games. Skydance late merged with Paramount Global, and he himself assumed the position of manager of CBS, MTV, and Paramount filmoteka.
His father supported the transaction with equity worth over $1.5 billion, thereby strengthening the position of the household in the technology and media industry. The takeover required the approval of the national Communications Commission (FCC), which came shortly after Skydance agreed to review CBS editorial practices and remove interior DEI programs.
These changes occurred at the time the company found itself under scrutiny in connection with possible political interference following Trump's suit against CBS for editing an interview with Kamala Harris of 2024, which ended with a settlement of Paramount for $16 million. After obtaining the approval of regulators, David presently oversees 1 of the largest media operations in the United States, and subsequent acquisitions are reportedly in the planning phase.
