Larry Ellison, Oracle co-founder and the world’s second-richest man, has pledged to donate 95% of his fortune. He made this commitment in 2010 as part of the Giving Pledge. Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index estimates Larry Ellison’s net worth at $373 billion, mainly from his 41% stake in Oracle and investments in Tesla. His fortune has jumped recently, driven by a surge in Oracle’s stock thanks to the AI boom.

A much larger part of Larry Ellison’s charitable work is done through the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), a for-profit organisation based at the University of Oxford. EIT focuses on big global challenges like healthcare, climate change, food security, and AI research.

Ellison has made several high-profile donations over the years. He gave $200 million to the University of Southern California to create a cancer research centre and contributed around $1 billion to the Ellison Medical Foundation, which worked on ageing and disease prevention before it was closed.

Although his direct donations are smaller compared to those of some other billionaires, his long-term commitments through EIT and the Giving Pledge add up to billions of dollars. Ellison has said that almost all of his wealth will eventually go to charitable causes, managed according to his plans and timing.

Running a for-profit institute has not been without challenges. In 2024, he hired scientist John Bell to lead research at EIT, with former University of Michigan president Santa Ono joining to collaborate. But just two weeks later, Bell resigned, calling the work “very challenging.”

Despite these setbacks, Ellison continues to use technology and research to address some of the world’s biggest problems. Through long-term investment and careful planning, he aims to ensure that his wealth has a lasting impact on science, healthcare, and society.