The new status of the person who is only richer than Elon Musk

Larry Ellison, the 81-year-old tech billionaire known as the co-founder of Oracle and a Silicon Valley icon of “work hard, play hard,” has taken a surprising turn after decades of software and a lavish lifestyle, shifting gears to build a media empire.

From TikTo, CBS, Paramount to CNN, the Ellison family is redrawing the map of power in the US media and entertainment industry. In a unique political context, where President Donald Trump's support can decide success or failure, this move not only reflects Ellison's personal ambition but also reflects an unprecedented era of media consolidation.

Larry Ellison's Media Ambitions

At 81, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison is making a surprising move into the challenging media sector. After decades of technology and lavish lifestyles, he is building a portfolio that could change the balance of power in the industry in the United States.

Oracle, in which Ellison holds a more than 40% stake, has become one of the investors in the new US version of TikTok. The app has about 170 million domestic users, considered a “bargain” after the US Congress forced ByteDance to divest over national security concerns. With its existing relationship, as Oracle is providing data infrastructure for TikTok in the US, this deal opens up opportunities for the company to penetrate deeper into the consumer sector.

Investing in TikTok US shows Larry Ellison's ambition to expand into media. Photo: Bloomberg .

Although the ownership structure of TikTok US is unclear, observers believe that the shareholders will be favored by President Trump. The Murdoch family, the owner of Fox News, has also been revealed by Mr. Trump as being able to participate. This is an important political factor, in the context of large-scale media deals often facing legal barriers.

The Ellison family has expanded beyond TikTok to Hollywood. His son, David Ellison, has completed an $8 billion deal to control Paramount and CBS, and is preparing to acquire Warner, including CNN. If successful, it would be the first time a family has simultaneously controlled TikTok, CBS News, and CNN, demonstrating an unprecedented level of influence in American media history.

What sets these deals apart, according to historian Michael Socolow, is their cross-platform reach. “The ability to set editorial lines on TikTok, CBS News, and CNN opens up a whole new world for the Ellisons,” said historian Michael Socolow. In the digital age, where geographic and platform boundaries are disappearing, the ambitions of the world’s second-richest man are increasingly being noticed.

From Silicon Valley to Future Legacy

Larry Ellison currently has a net worth of more than $367 billion , at one point surpassing Elon Musk to become the richest person in the world. This value mainly comes from Oracle shares as the stock of this technology company has continuously increased sharply in recent years. With almost unlimited financial potential, he no longer faces traditional barriers when building a media empire.

Born in 1944, Ellison and two colleagues founded Oracle in 1977. From a software company that faced bankruptcy many times, Oracle rose to become a leading technology corporation. Not considered a technical genius, Ellison is more famous for his sales and relationship building abilities. In parallel with his work, he attracted attention with his lavish lifestyle when he married many times, owned Lanai Island in Hawaii, real estate, super yachts and even an old Italian Navy fighter plane.

Larry Ellison once surpassed Elon Musk to become the world's richest billionaire. Photo: Bloomberg .

In addition to business, Ellison is also involved in the fields of charity and scientific research. At Oxford University, he founded the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), aiming to turn academic research into life science businesses. However, the institute soon faced turmoil when John Bell, a famous scientist, left after just over a year of working there.

Ellison was often involved in the work, attending meetings and speaking directly to the institute’s leadership, the source said, causing tensions over how research was commercialised and the level of long-term financial commitment. Bell, however, acknowledged that Ellison’s arrival was a turning point for British science, as he chose to build a legacy outside the US.

Throughout his career, the Oracle co-founder has often been described as the archetypal tech entrepreneur. If his media ambitions succeed, his legacy will extend beyond Oracle to global information power, a legacy that goes far beyond the software industry that made Larry Ellison famous.

Source: https://znews.vn/vi-the-moi-cua-nguoi-giau-thu-nhi-the-gioi-post1587895.html