#25: Larry Ellison – Lanai
Island worth: $300-600 million
In the annals of tech history, 1977 marked the birth of something monumental – Larry Ellison, flanked by friends and colleagues, laid the foundation for Software Development Laboratories, now famously recognized as Oracle, the globe’s second-largest software behemoth. Fast-forward to our present timeline, and Ellison’s net worth has skyrocketed to an astonishing $78 billion.
With a fortune that colossal, it’s no surprise that the Oracle co-founder embarked on a venture of island proportions, shelling out an eye-popping sum between $300 and $600 million to acquire the breathtaking Hawaiian paradise of Lanai. Yet, the island saga took an unexpected twist, as Ellison made a heartfelt gesture by returning a portion of this earthly gem to the island’s own people, a move that added a touching chapter to his story in the Aloha State.