March 13, 2012
Oracle’s Ellison top Jewish billionaire on Forbes list
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Larry Ellison lecturing during Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco in 2010. Photo by Ilan Costica
Oracle founder Larry Ellison is top ranked among Jewish individuals, appearing sixth on the Forbes magazine’s annual list of world billionaires, with $36 billion.
Ellison held the same ranking last year, but with $28 billion.
Casino and hotel magnate Sheldon Adelson, with $24.9 billion, moved up to No. 14 from 78. Adelson and his family have donated at least $20 million to a Super PAC supporting GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich. Adelson also is a major giver to Birthright Israel.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the next Jewish person, at No. 20, with $22 billion — like Ellison, $8 billion richer than last year — followed by George Soros at 22nd, up from No. 35 with $20 billion.
Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page were tied for No. 24, with $18.7 billion each.
Other Jews to make the top 100 included Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, at No. 35 with $15.5 billion; Brazilian banking and investment mogul Joseph Safra, at No. 52 with $13.8 billion; Russian steel magnate Roman Abramovich, at No. 68 with $12.1 billion; and U.S. businessman Ronald Perelman, at No. 69 with $12 billion.
Thirteen Israelis made the list, down from 16 last year. Eyal and Idan Ofer became the two newest Israelis on the list, inheriting their fortunes from their father, shipping magnate Sammy Ofer, Israel’s richest man, who died last June after coming in at No. 79 last year with $10.3 billion. Idan Ofer entered the list at No. 161, with $6.2 billion; and Eyal Ofer was No. 173, with $5.8 billion.
Carnival Cruise CEO Micky Arison dropped from No. 62 to No. 223, with $4.7 billion, just months after one of his cruise ships sank near Italy.
Mexican telecom businessman Carlos Slim Helu and his family topped the list, with $69 billion.
