Oracle founder Larry Ellison is currently the world’s second richest person, only behind Tesla CEO Elon Musk. As per Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, he has a total net worth of $373 billion. Ellison’s wealth has grown rapidly in the past months due to massive gains in Oracle’s stock, driven by the AI boom. But not many are aware that Larry Ellison has pledged to donate 95% of his wealth as part of the Giving Pledge in 2010. Since then, he has moved away from traditional nonprofits, saying he prefers to give away wealth on his own terms.
How Larry Ellison plans to donate 95% of his wealth
A report by Fortune reveals how Larry Ellison plans to give away his wealth. As mentioned above, Ellison’s net worth is estimated at $373 billion as of September 2025. The majority of his wealth comes from his 41% stake in Oracle, along with a significant investment in Tesla.Ellison’s philanthropic efforts are primarily channelled through the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), a for-profit organization based at the University of Oxford. The institute focuses on global challenges including healthcare, food insecurity, climate change, and AI research. A major new campus for EIT, valued at approximately $1.3 billion, is scheduled to open in Oxford by 2027.Over the years, Ellison has made several high-profile donations. He contributed $200 million to the University of Southern California to establish a cancer research center and gave roughly $1 billion to the Ellison Medical Foundation, which focused on aging and disease prevention before it was closed.While his direct charitable disbursements are lower than some of his peers, his commitments through the Giving Pledge and the Ellison Institute total in the billions. Ellison has stated that nearly all of his wealth will eventually be directed toward philanthropic causes, managed on his own terms and timeline.
Leadership changes at Ellison’s for-profit organization
According to a New York Times, EIT has faced turbulence due to leadership changes. In 2024, Ellison hired scientist John Bell to lead research. In August, he said former University of Michigan president Santa Ono would “collaborate” with Bell. Two weeks later, Bell quit, calling it a “very challenging project.”
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