Larry Ellison Surpasses Silicon Valley Rivals as He Reshapes Global Media and Tech

Billionaire Larry Ellison, long considered in the shadow of other tech icons such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk, has stepped decisively into the limelight. At 81, Ellison recently saw his personal fortune surpass Elon Musk’s, propelled by renewed investor optimism in Oracle and the accelerating artificial intelligence boom. Despite Oracle’s relative lack of household recognition, its soaring shares—rising 43 percent last week alone—have positioned it among the ranks of tech’s most influential companies, alongside Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Ellison’s influence is extending well beyond enterprise software. He has become a pivotal figure shaping the global media and technology landscape, capturing the spirit of Donald Trump’s technology-first administration. His newest moves suggest not only commercial ambition but also the potential for a rightward shift in American media, television, film, and technology industries.

His reach has expanded dramatically with the backing of his son David Ellison’s media venture, Skydance, which recently secured an $8 billion acquisition of Paramount, owner of Channel 5 and CBS. Skydance’s ambitions reportedly now target Warner Bros Discovery, a further step that would grant Ellison influence over some of the world’s most prestigious film brands, as well as news outlets including HBO and CNN.

There are also moves to acquire the US assets of TikTok after the Trump administration ordered a forced sale of the Chinese-owned platform, utilised by almost 150 million Americans. Trump has publicly said he favours Ellison as a potential buyer. The deal, supported by venture capital heavyweight a16z, remains subject to ongoing negotiations and international tensions between the US and China.

Ellison’s profile is marked by flamboyance and a preference for operating out of the public eye. While holding a 41 percent stake in Oracle, he has spent lavishly on personal pursuits—from funding successful America’s Cup campaigns to buying Hawaii’s sixth-largest island and constructing a California estate inspired by a Japanese imperial palace. In the United Kingdom, he has founded the Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford and acquired The Eagle and Child, a historic pub with literary connections to CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien. These interests remain separate from Oracle’s substantial pledge to invest £5 billion in British data centres.

The recent expansion into media comes as Ellison’s political allegiances have shifted. Once a supporter of Bill Clinton and prominent backer of Tony Blair’s non-profit institute, Ellison’s pragmatism now aligns him more closely with Donald Trump. He hosted a campaign fundraiser for Trump in 2020 and reportedly participated in discussions on contesting the US election outcome that year.

Signs already suggest a political shift in media under Ellison’s influence. Paramount-owned CBS recently dismissed late-night host Stephen Colbert following critical remarks over a lawsuit settlement with Trump. Skydance has promised to eschew diversity, equity and inclusion policies as part of its merger strategy with Paramount, and a Trump ally now fills the newly-created role of ombudsman at CBS News. Talks are reportedly ongoing to purchase The Free Press, an ‘anti-woke’ media outlet founded by Bari Weiss, who may take a senior role at CBS if the deal proceeds.

Ellison’s ascendance is emblematic of a broader trend: the ownership and political direction of major US media outlets are undergoing profound change, with a growing conservative alignment. The once-private Ellison has waited decades for an opportunity to wield such influence. Now, as his power expands across both traditional and digital platforms, he stands poised to help redraw the global media map and call the shots among the world’s most powerful news and entertainment conglomerates.