The hottest topic in the tech world lately is definitely this. Last month, when news broke that 81-year-old Lawrence Ellison had taken the top spot among the world's wealthiest, the entire industry honestly shook.

According to Bloomberg data, his assets skyrocketed by over $100 billion in a single day, quickly surpassing Elon Musk, who had long held the top position. As the co-founder of Oracle and its largest individual shareholder, his assets reached $393 billion that day, showing a scale that’s truly on a different level.

But what’s really interesting is what happens from here. This Lawrence Ellison isn’t just a wealthy person—his life itself is dramatic. Born an orphan, dropping out of college, starting with nothing, experiencing five marriages, and still living a tumultuous life at 81.

In the early 1970s, when he was working at Ampex Corporation, he was involved in developing a database system for the CIA. The project was called “Oracle.” In 1977, he and his friends pooled $2,000 to start a software company, and since then, he has continued to dominate the tech industry for over 40 years.

What’s fascinating is how Lawrence Ellison has moved in the era of AI. Oracle, initially lagging behind AWS and Azure in cloud computing, leveraged its database technology strengths to become one of the core suppliers of AI infrastructure. The $300 billion deal with OpenAI is a prime example of this.

In his private life, he is truly a free spirit. He owns 98% of Lanai Island in Hawaii, is passionate about yacht racing, and in 2013, his Oracle Team USA made a stunning comeback to win the America’s Cup. He also loves tennis, reviving the Indian Wells tournament to the point where it’s called the “Fifth Grand Slam.”

In 2024, he made headlines again by marrying a Chinese woman 47 years his junior. On the internet, jokes fly that “Lawrence Ellison loves surfing and love.” He’s known for strict self-discipline, exercising several hours daily, and living on water and green tea without sugar for decades, which keeps him looking much younger than his age of 81.

He also maintains a unique style in philanthropy. In 2010, he signed the Giving Pledge, promising to donate over 95% of his wealth, but unlike other billionaires, he doesn’t participate in collective actions. He pursues an independent charitable strategy based on his own philosophy.

Looking at all this, Lawrence Ellison isn’t just a wealthy man—he’s a fighter who has always carved out his life on his own terms. Even in the AI era, the legend of the old tech titan isn’t over. Perhaps he’s opening a new chapter.