Two of Silicon Valley’s most influential executives, Larry Ellison of Oracle and Jensen Huang of Nvidia, saw their fortunes swell by a combined $11.6 billion on Tuesday, underscoring investors’ fervor for artificial intelligence and enterprise software.
According to real-time data from Forbes and Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Oracle’s co-founder and chief technology officer Larry Ellison gained $5.9 billion in a single trading day, as shares of Oracle Corp. rose 2.4% to close at $234.96. This pushed Ellison’s net worth to an estimated $279.5 billion, making him the second-richest person in the world as of July 16, 2025 — behind only Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
Meanwhile, Nvidia’s president and CEO Jensen Huang saw his net worth climb by $5.7 billion, reaching $148.6 billion, following a 4% jump in Nvidia’s shares to $170.70. The rally builds on the company’s explosive growth since early 2024, driven by skyrocketing demand for its industry-leading graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI solutions.
AI momentum driving tech wealth
The surge reflects broader market optimism surrounding artificial intelligence. As enterprises double down on automation and advanced computing, companies like Oracle and Nvidia have emerged as major beneficiaries.
Oracle’s pivot from traditional software to AI-driven cloud infrastructure and data services has re-energized its valuation. The company’s aggressive expansion into health tech, highlighted by its $28.3 billion acquisition of Cerner in 2021, and its AI-driven database services have solidified its place among tech’s elite.
Ellison, who founded Oracle in 1977 and stepped down as CEO in 2014, retains around 40% ownership in the company, making him its largest shareholder. Now based primarily on the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which he famously purchased for $300 million in 2012, Ellison continues to shape Oracle’s direction as CTO.
Huang’s Nvidia: From gaming to AI juggernaut
Under Huang’s leadership since 1993, Nvidia transformed from a niche graphics chip designer into a global powerhouse at the heart of the AI revolution.
The company briefly surpassed a $3 trillion market cap earlier in 2025, placing it among the world’s most valuable companies. Nvidia’s chips now power everything from AI data centers and supercomputers to self-driving cars and advanced robotics.
Huang, born in Taiwan and raised partly in Thailand before moving to the U.S., holds about 3% of Nvidia’s stock. Beyond business, he’s known for his philanthropic efforts, including a $30 million donation to Stanford University and $50 million to Oregon State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering.
Market confidence in AI remains robust
Tuesday’s market rally highlights the growing investor confidence in AI-related equities despite broader economic uncertainties. According to analysts at Morgan Stanley, AI infrastructure spending is expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030, fueling demand for advanced chips and enterprise cloud services.
As AI reshapes industries from healthcare to finance and entertainment, visionaries like Ellison and Huang are seeing their personal fortunes rise alongside their companies’ strategic bets.
What’s next?
With Oracle’s continued push into AI-powered cloud services and Nvidia’s dominance in AI chip architecture, both executives are well-positioned to remain at the forefront of tech’s next wave.
As Ellison recently noted at an Oracle Cloud World keynote:
“The future of computing will be AI-first, and we intend to lead that revolution.”
