According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, on September 10, 2025, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s net worth surged to $393 billion, briefly surpassing Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person, stunning global markets. However, by market close, Oracle shares had pared some gains, allowing Musk to reclaim the top spot.

Ellison, now 81, serves as Oracle’s chairman and CTO, with the bulk of his fortune tied to the database giant. On Wednesday, Oracle’s U.S. stock soared more than 40% at the opening bell—the company’s largest single-day gain since 1999. Its financial services software subsidiary also spiked 10% in Mumbai, with trading volume nearly nine times its three-month daily average.

Oracle’s Financial Performance
For the fiscal quarter ending August 31, Oracle reported revenue of $14.93 billion, up 12% year-on-year but slightly below market expectations of $15.03 billion. Adjusted net profit rose 8% to $4.3 billion, with EPS at $1.47, just shy of the $1.48 forecast. Cloud revenue jumped 28% to $7.19 billion, now nearly half of total sales. CEO Safra Catz called it “an amazing quarter,” citing billion-dollar contracts with major clients, including AI giants OpenAI, xAI, and Meta, as well as partnerships with Amazon, Google’s Alphabet, and Microsoft to integrate Oracle’s cloud services. Oracle now projects cloud infrastructure revenue to grow 77% this fiscal year to $18 billion, with ambitions of hitting hundreds of billions within four years.

The Rise of Jolin Zhu
Ellison’s brief ascension as the world’s richest man has once again drawn attention to his Chinese-born wife, Jolin Zhu (also known as Keren Zhu), who is 47 years younger than him. Born in 1991 in Shenyang, China, Zhu studied at Northeast Yucai Middle School before moving to the U.S. for high school. In 2010, she entered the University of Michigan, earning a bachelor’s degree in International Studies in 2012, and also studied at Bard College at Simon’s Rock.

Like many international students, she once lived modestly in an $880-per-month student apartment near campus in Ann Arbor. Former classmates recall her as focused and reserved, often leaving parties early to concentrate on her studies. After graduation, she rented a $2,600-per-month apartment near Oracle’s headquarters—fueling speculation that her path had already crossed with Ellison’s.

Though she kept a low profile, their relationship surfaced in late 2024 when Michigan’s Wolverines football program secured top quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood, thanks in part to a $10 million donation from Ellison and Zhu. In a rare statement, Zhu declared herself a passionate Michigan alumna and sports supporter, saying she was proud to help student-athletes succeed.

Reports suggest that Ellison and Zhu have been together since at least 2017 and may already share two children.

From Dorm to Mansion
Today, Jolin Zhu lives in a breathtaking $110 million Japanese-style estate in Woodside, California. The home combines traditional wooden architecture with modern design, blending Zen minimalism with luxury living.

Her journey—from an ordinary Chinese exchange student living in student dorms to the wife of one of the wealthiest men on earth—is itself a modern-day fairy tale.