Larry Ellison was born on August 17, 1944 in New York City, New York, United States. He was born to Flora (née Lamond) and Alfred Louis Ellison, though he was adopted by his mother’s cousin and her husband, John and Minnie Ellison, shortly after birth. Ellison grew up in Chicago, attended public schools, and later studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Chicago before leaving without a degree to pursue technology ventures. His early career included roles at Ampex, where he co-founded Software Development Laboratories in 1977, which later became Oracle Corporation.
Oracle and business trajectory
Ellison co-founded what became Oracle Corporation in 1977 with Bob Miner and Ed Oates, initially developing database software that leveraged the relational model proposed by E.F. Codd. Oracle’s first commercial relational database management system (RDBMS) was released in 1979, and the company later renamed itself to reflect the Oracle Database product. Under Ellison’s leadership as co-founder, executive chairman, and former CEO, Oracle became one of the world’s largest enterprise software companies, expanding through acquisitions and cloud computing initiatives.
Key biographical milestones
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 1944 | Birth in New York City | Establishes verified start date for biographical and business timeline |
| 1949–1954 | Adopted by aunt and uncle; moves to Chicago | Shaped early upbringing and education context |
| 1966 | Moves to California; begins tech career | Precedes founding of Oracle |
| 1977 | Co-founds Software Development Laboratories (Oracle) | Launch of company that built Oracle’s database empire |
| 1988–2014 | Serves as CEO; later Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer | Longest-tenured leader among major tech CEOs; drove product and cloud strategy |
Personal background and citizenship
Ellison’s early life included time in Chicago public schools before he pursued higher education intermittently. He is a U.S. citizen by birth and has maintained primary residency in California, where Oracle is headquartered. His background in technology entrepreneurship, combined with his long tenure at Oracle, has shaped the company’s product-driven and sometimes combative corporate culture.
Relationship to Oracle and leadership legacy
As co-founder, Ellison served multiple stints as CEO and remains executive chairman and chief technology officer. His tenure encompasses the client-server computing era, the rise of Oracle Database, decades of enterprise contracts, and the ongoing shift to cloud infrastructure and autonomous services. Ellison’s leadership style and technical focus have consistently influenced Oracle’s strategic direction, M&A activity, and long-term product vision.
Comparative context: Ellison at a glance
- Birth date: August 17, 1944
- Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
- Adoption status: Adopted in infancy by aunt and uncle
- Education: Attended University of Illinois and University of Chicago; no degree
- Career origin: Technology industry in California, co-founder of Oracle
FAQ
Reader questions
What is Larry Ellison’s date of birth?
Larry Ellison was born on August 17, 1944. This date is widely reported in authoritative biographies, legal filings, and corporate records.
Where was Larry Ellison born?
He was born in New York City, New York, United States, and was adopted shortly after birth by his aunt and uncle, who raised him in Chicago.
Why does his birth year matter for Oracle’s history?
Ellison’s birth year anchors the timeline of Oracle’s formation in 1977, his age at founding, and subsequent milestones that align with the evolution of the database industry and enterprise software markets.
Does Ellison’s adoption affect public records of his birth?
His adoption is documented in reliable biographical sources and does not alter the verified date and location of birth, which remain August 17, 1944, in New York City.