Larry Ellison, cofounder of Oracle and the world's sixth-richest person, quietly donated about $45 million to a nonprofit supporting Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, according to the Wall Street Journal cited by fortune.com. This donation was not subject to disclosure rules and had not been publicly reported until this week. At the same time, Oracle secured a prominent role in a $500 billion AI buildout initiative.
Unlike other tech CEOs who have publicly engaged with Trump, Ellison maintained a low profile, missing key events such as Trump's recent China trip and White House dinners with Silicon Valley leaders. Despite this, Ellison has continued to fund groups backing Trump since the last election. Oracle is also listed as a corporate sponsor for Freedom 250, a pro-Trump organization. Federal disclosure documents reveal that Trump’s investment accounts traded Oracle shares earlier this year, highlighting a financial connection between the campaign and the company.
Ellison's donation contrasts with the more visible support from other tech executives like Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Jensen Huang, who have openly interacted with Trump. Oracle's involvement in the AI buildout, valued at $500 billion, places the company at the center of a major technology initiative, underscoring its strategic importance in the sector. The donation and Oracle's corporate sponsorship reflect the intertwining of political funding and corporate positioning within the tech industry.
Federal disclosure documents from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics confirm the trading of Oracle shares by Trump’s investment accounts earlier this year, while Oracle's sponsorship of Freedom 250 remains active, according to fortune.com.