By Peter Omopo
September 10, 2025 — Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has overtaken Tesla CEO Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Ellison’s net worth surged by an unprecedented $101 billion in a single day after Oracle reported quarterly results that exceeded market expectations and signalled continued growth in its cloud business. His fortune now stands at $393 billion, ahead of Musk’s $385 billion.
The 81-year-old tech mogul’s gain marks the largest one-day increase ever recorded on Bloomberg’s wealth tracker. Oracle shares, already up 45 per cent in 2025, jumped another 41 per cent following the earnings report, lifting Ellison’s fortune. He holds the majority of his wealth in Oracle stock, where he serves as chairman and chief technology officer.
Musk, who reclaimed the top spot in 2024 and held it for more than 300 days, slipped into second place as Tesla shares fell 13 per cent this year. He first rose to the world’s richest ranking in 2021 but has since traded places with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and LVMH chief Bernard Arnault at different times.
Despite the setback, Musk’s long-term prospects remain significant. Tesla’s board has proposed a massive pay package tied to ambitious performance targets that analysts say could make him the world’s first trillionaire if achieved.
Ellison’s rise underscores the shifting dynamics of global wealth as investors continue to bet heavily on cloud computing and artificial intelligence, areas where Oracle has expanded aggressively in recent years.
