It’s not uncommon for school and college dropouts to be disparaged by society. LarryEllison, too, was no stranger to this. Beset by an adoptive father, Ellison was often told by him that he was good for nothing, and never would be.

 

But this man went on to become a billionaire CEO of a multinational computer technology corporation –Oracle. He proved, like many others, that dropouts are not to be underestimated. “Oh, it was powerful motivation…I think my dad had a wonderful effect on me,” was his undeterred take on the matter, setting an inspiring example for striving youngsters.

 

This slumdog billionaire born on August 17, 1944, was raised by a working-class Chicago family – his biological mother’s relatives – who adopted him when he was nine months old. Always at odds with his father, Ellison’s relationship with him didn’t improve when he dropped out of college, twice – first from The University of Illinois, upon the death of his adoptive mother, and then from the University of Chicago.

 

In the prime of his youth, Ellison moved to California with a dangerously dwindling amount of cash, spending the next few years working several jobs. Having never taken a single computer science course in his life, Ellison turned to his own mind for a reliable teacher when he got a job as a programmer. “I was largely self-taught. I just picked up a book and started programming,”

 

However, it was when he joined the Ampex Corporation in the 70s that he found a home within the digital world. He worked on several projects there, one of which was successfully building the first IBM compatible mainframe system. This path-turning project was the relational database design which he code-named ‘Oracle’. The first version of the product they released was, in fact, Oracle version 2.0 – a street-smartness that played in their favor. Ellison and his team knew that the first version of a brand new product would not have many takers. It was this sheep in the guise of a wolf that gave them their first customer, the CIA.

 

Soon after this, in 1977, Ellison and his two colleagues from Ampex founded Software Development Laboratories (SDL). The Oracle system they had earlier designed shot to popularity when IBM used it to run its mainframe system. After seven years of consistently growing sales, Ellison officially converted SDL to Oracle Systems Corporation. In due course, he received an award in the Ernst& Young Entrepreneur of the Year program in the High Technology category. In 1997, he was elected as one of the board members on Apple computer when Steve Jobs returned to the company.

 

Of course, it isn’t all about the money. Ellison has claimed that becoming rich was never his intention. With Oracle, he wanted to create an atmosphere where he could enjoy the work he loved and make a living. Now in his 70s, he still finds his success hard to believe. “I certainly never expected to become rich, certainly not this rich. I mean, the rich do not even describe this. This is surreal.“

 

Today Ellison has a net worth of $55.4 billion, owns a private island Lanai, off the coast of Hawaii, and a 288-foot mega-yacht Musashi which has 5 decks and a basketball court (he loves playing basketball). He also owns a number of cars and real estate, including a historic garden villa in Kyoto, Japan.

A billionaire, no doubt, but he donates millions to medical research and education. He has also given millions of dollars to charity and says that he plans to give billions more.

 

Here is the man who has gone from jumping jobs with light-weighted pockets to having more money than fingers can count. “Whatever I want, I get…that’s the beauty of being worth (billions). I thoroughly recommend it” – spoken like a true billionaire, Ellison.

 

Lessons that all budding entrepreneurs can learn from Larry Ellison is of persistence, and to believe in your product. To understand the importance of taking calculated risks, not oversell your service, and that formal education does not necessarily lead to success. Finally, that competitiveness is a great motivator.

 

He also believes in giving back to the community. Larry Ellison’s life is a great source of motivation and encouragement from his humble beginnings to great success!