Larry Ellison, the co-founder and chairman of Oracle, significantly deepened his relationship with Donald Trump through a $45 million donation placed in a pro-Trump super PAC in January 2024. This contribution, which was his largest political donation ever, followed a private meeting between Ellison and Trump at a golf tournament in Florida. The donation positions Ellison as a key financial backer for Trump's political endeavors and further solidifies a connection that began with a 2020 fundraiser Ellison hosted for Trump. This substantial financial backing contrasts with Ellison's past political giving, which had historically included donations to both Republican and Democratic candidates.
Ellison's support for Trump has evolved. While he hosted a fundraiser for Trump in 2020, at the time campaign finance records didn't show direct contributions to Trump's campaign. His political positions have shifted from being a Democrat supporter to a quiet Republican donor, and now a prominent backer of Trump. The 2020 fundraiser, held at his estate in Rancho Mirage, California, was considered a significant endorsement from a Silicon Valley figure. This latest $45 million donation, however, marks a much more substantial and public commitment to Trump's political future.
The relationship between Ellison and Trump has had business implications, particularly concerning the TikTok deal. In 2020, Oracle, with Walmart, nearly acquired a minority stake in TikTok's U.S. operations amid national security concerns from the Trump administration. Though that deal ultimately fell through, Oracle became TikTok's secure cloud provider for U.S. user data. Ellison also appeared alongside Trump at the White House in 2024 to announce a joint AI venture called Stargate, underscoring their ongoing collaboration. Ellison's son, David Ellison, has also been active in media ventures, including the acquisition of Paramount, and has made significant donations to Democratic causes, including nearly $930,000 to Joe Biden's reelection efforts in April 2024, illustrating the family's diverse political engagements.
