Larry Ellison Dropped Out of College Twice and Now Has $349.5 Billion — How He Did It

Core Insights - Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle Corporation, has a net worth of $349.5 billion as of October 2, making him the second-richest person globally [2] - Ellison's wealth primarily stems from his 40% stake in Oracle, alongside investments in Tesla and real estate [6] - Oracle's revenue grew by 12% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, and its share price increased by over 74% for the year as of October 2 [7] Group 1: Larry Ellison's Background - Ellison's early life is characterized as a "classic rags-to-riches story," having been raised by his aunt and uncle in Chicago and dropping out of two colleges [3] - He demonstrated a natural talent for programming, which led him to work with tech companies like Ampex and Amdahl, where he contributed to a CIA project that inspired his entrepreneurial journey [4] Group 2: Oracle Corporation - In 1977, Ellison co-founded Software Development Laboratories, which later became Oracle Corporation, known for its popular enterprise software, particularly Oracle Database [5] - The company's strong performance and Ellison's significant ownership stake have been key factors in his wealth accumulation [6]