Oracle Corporation, a multinational technology company specializing in database software, cloud computing, and enterprise software, is primarily owned by its co-founder and former CEO, Larry Ellison. As of 2025, Larry Ellison holds a significant ownership stake in Oracle, making him the largest individual shareholder of the company.
However, Oracle is a publicly traded company, and as such, its shares are also owned by institutional investors, such as Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and other investment firms.
Ellison is recognized for his pivotal role in Oracle’s founding in 1977, and he has maintained a dominant position in the company over the years. As of the most recent data, Ellison remains actively involved in the company’s strategic direction, serving as the Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Oracle Corporation.
Ownership Status of Oracle
| Shareholder / Owner | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Larry Ellison | ~35% | Founder, largest individual shareholder, and Executive Chairman. He remains the dominant figure in Oracle’s ownership structure. |
| Vanguard Group | ~8.0% | One of the largest institutional investors in Oracle. Vanguard’s holdings make it a significant minority shareholder. |
| BlackRock | ~7.5% | Another major institutional investor, BlackRock holds a substantial percentage of Oracle’s shares. |
| Other Institutional Investors | ~20% | Includes firms like State Street, T. Rowe Price, and Fidelity, contributing to a collective public ownership of Oracle. |
| Public Shareholders | ~30% | Public ownership through Class A shares. Oracle is publicly traded, and a large portion of its shares are held by institutional and retail investors. |
Larry Ellison controls a majority voting share in Oracle through Class B shares, which carry more voting power compared to Class A shares owned by public investors. This structure gives him considerable influence over the company’s direction, despite not owning a majority of the equity.
Larry Ellison (Co-founder & Executive Chairman)
Larry Ellison is the founder and largest individual shareholder of Oracle Corporation. Born in 1944 in New York, Ellison went on to build one of the most successful technology companies in the world. Oracle was initially founded in 1977 under the name Software Development Laboratories by Ellison and two of his colleagues, Bob Miner and Ed Oates. The company was later renamed Oracle, a nod to its flagship Oracle database software.
Ellison’s leadership and vision for database technology revolutionized the enterprise software industry, making Oracle the go-to solution for large organizations’ data management. Throughout his tenure as CEO (from 1977 to 2014), Ellison grew the company into a multi-billion-dollar global technology giant.
Key Achievements and Role in Oracle:
- Founder of Oracle in 1977, starting the company with a focus on relational databases and evolving it into one of the leading tech companies globally.
- CEO of Oracle until 2014, when he stepped down and became Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Even after stepping down from the CEO role, Ellison remains an active and influential force in Oracle’s operations, especially in product development and innovation.
- Oracle’s Shift to Cloud Computing: Under Ellison’s leadership, Oracle made significant strides in the cloud computing space, competing with giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.
- Personal Wealth: As of 2025, Larry Ellison’s net worth is estimated at $130 billion, making him one of the wealthiest people in the world. He has amassed his fortune primarily through his significant stake in Oracle.
Influence and Legacy:
Larry Ellison’s vision for Oracle has shaped the entire enterprise software and cloud services industries. Oracle’s database technology is now used by thousands of businesses worldwide, and the company has a wide portfolio of products beyond databases, including ERP software, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and cloud infrastructure services.
Public Shareholders and Institutional Investors
While Larry Ellison remains the dominant figure in Oracle’s ownership structure, the company is also publicly traded, meaning a significant portion of Oracle’s shares are held by institutional investors and public shareholders. The largest institutional investors include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors, who manage billions of dollars in assets, including large stakes in Oracle.
- Vanguard Group, as one of the largest institutional investors in Oracle, holds about 8% of the company’s shares, contributing to the overall public ownership.
- BlackRock also owns about 7.5% of Oracle, making it another key player in Oracle’s ownership structure.
- State Street, Fidelity, and other asset management firms round out the group of significant institutional investors in Oracle, holding a combined total of approximately 20% of the company’s shares.
Despite not holding voting control, these institutional investors are critical in shaping Oracle’s strategic decisions and influencing corporate governance.
Company Overview
Oracle Corporation is a global leader in technology, with a primary focus on enterprise software and cloud services. The company offers a wide range of products and services, with its most notable being the Oracle Database. The company’s offerings also include cloud infrastructure, customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and various other business software tools.
Key Facts about Oracle:
- Founded: 1977
- Headquarters: Austin, Texas
- CEO (as of 2025): Safra Catz (Ellison’s former lieutenant)
- Market Value: $350 billion (2025 estimate)
- Key Products: Oracle Cloud, Oracle Database, Oracle ERP, Oracle CRM, and Oracle Autonomous Database
- Employees: Over 135,000 worldwide
Oracle has transitioned from being a database giant to becoming a leader in cloud computing, competing with industry titans like Amazon and Microsoft. Oracle is now one of the top cloud service providers globally, and its cloud infrastructure continues to expand with new features and services.
Oracle’s Evolution:
- 1980s-1990s: Oracle’s database technology became the industry standard for large organizations.
- 2000s: Oracle expanded its product offerings, acquiring PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems, and Sun Microsystems, strengthening its position in the software and hardware industries.
- 2010s: Oracle shifted its focus towards cloud computing, positioning itself as a competitor to AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.
- 2020s: Oracle continues to expand its cloud services and is involved in high-profile partnerships, including with companies in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
Recent Developments in Ownership
- 2014: Larry Ellison stepped down as CEO of Oracle and assumed the role of Executive Chairman and CTO. This transition allowed Safra Catz and Mark Hurd (who passed in 2019) to become co-CEOs. Ellison, however, remained a critical figure in Oracle’s strategic direction.
- 2020-2025: Oracle has made significant strides in cloud computing, with increased market share in cloud infrastructure and partnerships with major companies like Microsoft and Tesla.
- 2022-2025: Oracle continues to make acquisitions in the cloud computing space, and Ellison’s involvement in the company remains pivotal. He has continued to influence Oracle’s direction, particularly in cloud services and AI technologies.
FAQs
Q: Who is the current owner of Oracle?
Larry Ellison is the largest individual shareholder and Executive Chairman of Oracle. The company is publicly traded, with institutional investors holding significant stakes.
Q: How much of Oracle does Larry Ellison own?
As of 2025, Larry Ellison owns approximately 35% of Oracle, making him the largest individual shareholder of the company.
Q: When did Larry Ellison step down as CEO of Oracle?
Larry Ellison stepped down as CEO in 2014, transitioning to the role of Executive Chairman and CTO. Safra Catz and Mark Hurd took over as co-CEOs at that time.
Q: Is Oracle publicly or privately owned?
Oracle is a publicly traded company, and its shares are held by institutional investors and individual shareholders. Larry Ellison retains voting control through Class B shares.