Latest news with #Hawaiian
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Straits Times
How Larry Ellison became the world's second-richest person
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison owns more than 40 per cent of Oracle, as well as a stake in Tesla. TEXAS - Mr Larry Ellison dropped out of college before co-founding what eventually grew into one of the world's biggest tech companies. The fortune he amassed propelled him to the ranks of the uber-rich, and in July he eclipsed Mr Mark Zuckerberg to become the world's second-wealthiest person. His success has been accompanied by a well-documented history of lavish living. That lifestyle – which includes megayachts, private planes, trophy properties and the purchase of a Hawaiian island – sometimes brings about controversies. Here's what you need to know about Mr Ellison's life and career. Who is Larry Ellison and how much is he worth? Mr Ellison is the co-founder and largest shareholder of Oracle, a software giant that became famous for its namesake database which underpins many of the world's largest corporate operations. More recently, the company has found success in the competitive market for cloud computing infrastructure, which is dominated by rivals such as Amazon. Mr Ellison, 80, owns more than 40 per cent of Austin, Texas-based Oracle, as well as a stake in Tesla; a sailing team; the Indian Wells tennis event; and real estate, including Hawaii's Lanai island. The tech founder was worth US$251.2 billion (S$322.5 billion) as of July 15, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, putting him behind only Mr Elon Musk. The majority of Mr Ellison's fortune is derived from the stake in Oracle. How did Ellison make his fortune on Oracle? Raised on the south side of Chicago after being adopted by his mother's aunt and uncle when he was 9 months old, Mr Ellison dropped out of both the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago and moved to Berkeley, California, taking a computer programming job at Ampex, where he worked on a database called Oracle for the Central Intelligence Agency. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore key exports surprise with 13% rebound in June Business Market versus mission: What will Income Insurance choose? Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Life First look at the new Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa Opinion AI and education: We need to know where this sudden marriage is heading Singapore Coffee Meets Bagel's Singpass check: Why I'll swipe right on that Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence With two partners, Mr Ellison founded what eventually became Oracle in 1977. The company sold shares in an initial public offering on March 12, 1986. He stepped down as Oracle's chief executive officer in September 2014, taking on the titles of chairman and chief technology officer. Why is Oracle having a moment right now? Oracle has invested billions of dollars over the past few years to become a provider of cloud infrastructure – offering computing power and storage over the internet. That has made the company a beneficiary of the market's enthusiasm for artificial intelligence as startups and other AI firms seek more capacity. Oracle's share price has nearly tripled since ChatGPT's public release in November 2022. The stock jumped 5.7 per cent on July 15 after the US government eased some Biden-era restrictions, allowing chipmakers such as Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices to export certain semiconductors to China. The decision was expected to ease tensions in the global chip supply chain, which bodes well for Oracle, a massive buyer of AI chips for its data centers. The latest gain came during a period of explosive growth for the company, which has seen its shares surge more than 90% since late April due to strong revenues and key AI partnerships. Bloomberg reported earlier this month that OpenAI has agreed to rent an unprecedented sum of computing power from Oracle as it builds increasingly powerful AI tools. Mr Ellison also has benefited from a close relationship with President Donald Trump. Mr Ellison has been a Trump supporter and Republican donor for years, and since retaking office in January, Mr Trump has rewarded Mr Ellison by elevating Oracle on multiple occasions. Mr Ellison and Oracle are part of a US$500 billion AI infrastructure project called Stargate that Mr Trump first touted in January. Mr Trump has also expressed support for Oracle to acquire a partial stake in TikTok's US business, which would give Oracle a share of one of the world's most popular consumer products. Oracle's bid for the popular video app owned by China's ByteDance, which includes several other potential investors, has been endorsed by Mr Trump, but it hasn't been approved by leaders in Beijing. What other businesses does Ellison own? He has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on luxury real estate in the past decade, including properties in Malibu and Rancho Mirage, California; the Beechwood Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island; and an estate in the San Francisco Bay Area modeled on 16th century Japanese feudal architecture. Mr Ellison has been a major shareholder of Tesla and owned about 1.5 per cent of the company as of the carmaker's 2022 proxy statement. He stepped down from Tesla's board of directors in June 2022 and his stake hasn't been disclosed in subsequent proxies. He also was one of the largest outside backers of Mr Musk's bid to purchase Twitter. What are Ellison's interests outside of tech? The software mogul has a history of lavish living. In a 2002 email to the tech founder, an accountant suggested that Mr Ellison 'budget and plan' because his spending habits were becoming difficult to sustain, according to a January 2006 San Francisco Chronicle article. Mr Ellison finances his lifestyle using debt and the proceeds from Oracle stock sales and dividends, which have amounted to more than US$12 billion since 2003, according to an analysis of data compiled by Bloomberg. The avid sailor partially financed the BMW Oracle Racing team, which won the America's Cup in February 2010. He sold his stake in Rising Sun, a 138m megayacht, to billionaire David Geffen later that year. His Oracle Team USA defended the America's Cup in October 2013, defeating a team from New Zealand. He signed the Giving Pledge in 2010, promising to give away at least 95 per cent of his wealth to charitable causes. How has Ellison been involved in Hawaii? Mr Ellison's love for Hawaii, which began in his childhood, led to his US$300 million purchase of 98 per cent of the island of Lanai in 2012. There, he has partnered with Mr David Agus – a doctor who treated Mr Ellison's late best friend, Mr Steve Jobs – to create Sensei, a chain of luxury wellness resorts focused on longevity. His personal connections have brought high-profile visitors including Mr Musk, Tom Cruise and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the once-sleepy island. Mr Ellison's supporters have said his investments have helped revitalise Lanai but there have been complaints that the island has become more hospitable to the super-rich while squeezing out families that have lived there for generations. BLOOMBERG
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mets pitchers past and present Ron Darling and Sean Manaea interview each other
On the Season 2 premiere of SNY's Mets Flip the Script presented by Tri-State Cadillac, former Mets pitcher Ron Darling and current Mets starting southpaw Sean Manaea meet up in the Cadillac Club at Citi Field for a back-and-forth baseball conversation. The pitchers compare notes on adjustments made throughout their careers, their shared Hawaiian connection, pitching in the postseason in New York, and their life plans beyond playing the game.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
When will 'Lilo & Stitch' release on streaming? What we know
"Lilo & Stitch" hasn't hit Disney+ yet, but it could soon. The live-action reimagining of Disney's beloved animated classic made a big splash at the worldwide box office after its release in late May, bringing in more than $300 million in its opening weekend. The "wildly funny and touching story," based on the 2002 original movie of the same name, follows the story of a "lonely Hawaiian girl [Lilo] and the fugitive alien [Stitch] who helps to mend her broken family." After the film's commercial success, fans may be wondering when the live-action reimagining will make its debut on Disney-owned streaming platform, Disney+. Though Disney+ has yet to confirm when the movie will make its debut, it could be coming soon, based on the streaming releases of past Disney movies. Other content, namely movies and shows, set in the "Lilo & Stitch" universe, including the original, are currently streamable. Here's what we know about "Lilo & Stitch['s]" streaming debut, including how to watch. When will 'Lilo & Stitch' release on streaming? Based on the timeframe surrounding past Disney streaming releases, like that of "Moana 2," and "Mufasa: The Lion King," "Lilo & Stitch" could come to Disney+ in late August or early September. Disney+ press representatives did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on July 16. 'Lilo & Stitch' cast The "Lilo & Stitch" cast includes: How to watch other 'Lilo & Stitch' favorites The live-action version of "Lilo & Stitch" is not yet available to stream on Disney+ but the original version and other shows and films set in that universe certainly are. All of the "Lilo & Stitch" content available to stream on Disney+ as of July 16 includes: The cost of a Disney+ subscription varies, as prospective subscribers have the ability to choose between "basic" for $9.99 a month or "premium" for $15.99 a month, or $159.99 a year. The streaming service also offers "bundle plans," which offer access to more content than a traditional Disney+ subscription. Our review is in: New 'Lilo & Stitch' falls short of first film's unhinged brilliance Watch 'Lilo & Stitch' trailer Contributing: Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
Business Wire
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Stable Road Foundation's Ed Freedman Named to Pacific Business News' Hawaii's Most Admired Leaders
BUSINESS WIRE)--Ed Freedman, founder of the Maui-based nonprofit Stable Road Foundation, has been named one of Hawaii's Most Admired Leaders for 2025 by Pacific Business News. Freedman received the honor for his community building work with Stable Road Foundation, highlighted by recent projects to provide housing, education, and healthcare to local Maui residents still recovering from 2023's deadly wildfires. Share Freedman received the honor for his community building work with Stable Road Foundation, highlighted by recent projects to provide housing, education, and healthcare to local Maui residents still recovering from 2023's deadly wildfires. He was among 14 recipients of this year's award, who represent a diverse range of Hawaiian sectors such as education, finance, and hospitality. 'I'm honored to have earned this award for our work on behalf of our Maui ' ohana,' said Freedman. 'For the past two years, we've been focused on helping our community recover from the devastating wildfires that caused such terrible damage to our beloved island. There's still so much work to be done, and we hope this will inspire others to make the biggest impact they can, too.' Under Freedman's leadership, Stable Road Foundation has spearheaded a variety of rebuilding projects on Maui. Most recently, the Foundation celebrated the opening of a new long-term temporary housing development in Laihana, which enabled nine local families to return to their own land while they rebuild their permanent homes. Previously, the Foundation was also one of the main funders behind the construction of a new facility for Sacred Hearts School, which was destroyed by the wildfires. Along with long-term rebuilding efforts in the wake of the wildfires, Stable Road Foundation has also supported other projects to improve Maui infrastructure and social services. These include a $100,000 pledge to the Maui Health Foundation to build new facilities and deliver high-tech medical equipment to the island. Freedman has also been a strong supporter of Imua Family Services, helping to fund the construction of their new Imua Inclusion Preschool and joining their Multiverse sponsorship team to fund community events around the island. Founded in 2017, Stable Road Foundation leads community-strengthening projects both on Maui and around the world. The Foundation's primary missions are to ensure that every child has a chance to achieve their fullest potential, and to protect the natural environments in which they live.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC 318: Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier time, card and how to watch
In the main event of UFC 318 this weekend, Dustin Poirier fights for the final time and aims to take the 'Baddest Motherf*****' title from his old rival Max Holloway. Poirier, a fan favourite and lightweight legend, will bow out in his home state of Louisiana, duelling with Holloway for the third time. The pair first met in 2012, in Holloway's first UFC fight, with the Hawaiian suffering a submission defeat by Poirier. They then clashed again in 2019, when Holloway was the featherweight champion, as they vied for the interim lightweight belt. On that occasion, Poirier outpointed Holloway in a thrilling contest, though he later failed to unify the titles when he took on regular champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Now, the American, 36, faces Holloway once again, challenging the 33-year-old for the BMF belt. Will the 'Diamond' shine brightly one last time, or will 'Blessed' finally overcome Poirier? Here's all you need to know. When is UFC 318? UFC 318 is due to take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday 18 July. The early prelims are due to begin at 11.15pm BST (3.15pm PT, 5.15pm CT, 6.15pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then due at 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How to watch UFC 318 The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster's app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live, as will the UFC's Fight Pass. Odds Holloway – 8/11 Poirier – 11/10 Dustin Poirier (left) during his second win over Max Holloway (Getty Images) Via Betway. Get all the latest UFC betting sites' offers. The Independent vets betting sites for usability, security and responsible gambling tools. You can claim free bets here to use across a range of sports. Please read the terms. Fight card (subject to change; 'C' denotes champion) Main card Max Holloway (C) vs Dustin Poirier 3 ('BMF' title; lightweight) Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov (middleweight) Kevin Holland vs Daniel Rodriguez (welterweight) Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull (featherweight) Michael Johnson vs Daniel Zellhuber (lightweight) Prelims Kyler Phillips vs Vinicius Oliveira (bantamweight) Marvin Vettori vs Brendan Allen 2 (middleweight) Francisco Prado vs Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight) Ateba Gautier vs Robert Valentin (middleweight) Early prelims Adam Fugitt vs Islam Dulatov (welterweight) Jimmy Crute vs Marcin Prachnio (light-heavyweight) Ryan Spann vs Lukasz Brzeski (heavyweight) Brunno Ferreira vs Jackson McVey (middleweight) Carli Judice vs Nicolle Caliari (women's flyweight)
