2025-09-25T01:43:00Z

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What would you do if you woke up with $373 billion in your bank account? For Larry Ellison, the answer is more shocking than you'd think—he's planning to give nearly all of it away. But not in the way most billionaires do.

Most people know Larry Ellison as the legendary founder of Oracle, the software giant that powers everything from Wall Street to your favorite streaming apps. Thanks to the recent AI boom, Ellison's net worth has skyrocketed, making him the world’s second-richest person, right behind Elon Musk. But beneath the headlines about private islands and mega-yachts, there’s a much quieter story: a pledge to donate an eye-watering 95% of his fortune.

Back in 2010, Ellison joined The Giving Pledge—a commitment by the world’s richest to donate most of their wealth. However, Ellison’s approach is anything but traditional. Instead of writing blank checks to big-name charities, he’s opted for something far more personal and hands-on. His main philanthropic engine? The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), a for-profit research hub based at Oxford University, laser-focused on solving global challenges like cancer, food insecurity, climate change, and the future of AI.

To give you a sense of scale, EIT is building a new campus in Oxford worth $1.3 billion, set to open by 2027. That’s not exactly pocket change, even for a billionaire. Ellison’s giving history is full of jaw-dropping moments: $200 million to USC for a cancer center, nearly $1 billion to his own medical foundation for aging and disease prevention, and more. But unlike some of his billionaire peers who splash out on headline-grabbing donations every year, Ellison prefers to move at his own pace, channeling his wealth through tightly controlled projects that reflect his vision.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. According to the New York Times, Ellison’s institute has seen some turbulence. In 2024, he brought on renowned scientist John Bell to lead EIT’s research. Only two weeks after a high-profile announcement where Bell was supposed to collaborate with former University of Michigan president Santa Ono, Bell abruptly resigned, calling it a “very challenging project.” Leadership shakeups aside, Ellison remains committed to his plan: nearly every dollar he’s earned will eventually flow into scientific and humanitarian causes—just on his terms and timeline.

This AI generated newscast about Larry Ellison’s philanthropic journey isn’t just about money. It’s about a billionaire rewriting the playbook on how—and when—the richest among us give back. As Ellison’s fortune grows alongside Oracle and Tesla, all eyes are on how this unprecedented promise to give away $350 billion will play out over the coming years.