Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of Oracle, has quietly cemented a close relationship with former President Donald Trump, leveraging both financial contributions and personal ties to influence business and political landscapes. Despite skipping high-profile public events with Trump, including the recent state visit to China and a White House dinner with tech leaders, Ellison has played a significant role behind the scenes.

According to sources, Ellison donated approximately $45 million (about $65.1 million Australian dollars) to a political non-profit supporting Trump’s 2024 election efforts. This type of funding is not subject to disclosure requirements and has not been publicly reported until now. Beyond the campaign, Ellison has contributed additional millions to organizations aligned with Trump, including those promoting the former president’s legacy initiatives in Washington, D.C. Oracle is listed as a corporate sponsor by Freedom 250, a Trump-affiliated group organizing the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Federal filings show that Trump’s personal investment accounts traded Oracle stock earlier this year, including a sale of at least $1 million in January and a purchase of at least $1 million in March. The Trump Organization stated that the president’s investments are managed independently and that he does not participate in investment decisions.

While Larry Ellison did not attend a recent White House Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held on Trump’s 80th birthday, his son David Ellison was among the VIP guests. David leads Paramount Skydance, which recently completed an $8 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after receiving clearance from the Justice Department. Under David Ellison’s leadership, Paramount has invested heavily in acquiring UFC broadcasting rights, including streaming the recent White House event.

The Ellison family’s connection to Trump is multifaceted. Larry Ellison and Trump share ideological views supporting Israel and expressing skepticism toward mainstream media. In 2025, David Ellison acquired the Free Press media outlet and appointed its co-founder Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, where she has overseen significant organizational changes. The planned merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. would bring CNN under their control. Trump has publicly expressed confidence in David Ellison’s business acumen, suggesting he may surpass his father’s success.

Their proximity to Trump has translated into major business opportunities. The day after Trump’s second inauguration, Ellison was present in the White House when Oracle was selected to build the administration’s $500 billion artificial intelligence data center infrastructure. Later that year, Oracle participated in a government-brokered consortium that took control of TikTok’s U.S. operations.

The relationship between Ellison and Trump has not been without complexity. Larry Ellison previously supported other Republican candidates, including Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, in 2016 and 2024. Meanwhile, David Ellison donated close to $1 million to a Democratic super PAC backing the Biden-Harris campaign. Much of Larry Ellison’s political donations are made through non-profit organizations that do not require public disclosure, and no direct contributions to Trump’s official campaign or political action committees have been reported.

Ellison, 81, has relocated his primary residence to Florida, purchasing a $173 million oceanfront estate in Manalapan in 2022. The property is located about 20 minutes from Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club, where Ellison is known to visit. The ongoing interactions between the Ellisons and Trump underscore a strategic alliance that spans technology, media, and politics.