By Anders Melin,Brody Ford,Diana Li

Copyright smh

Larry Ellison dropped out of college before co-founding what eventually grew into one of the world’s biggest technology companies: Oracle. The fortune he amassed propelled him to the ranks of the uber-rich.

In July, he eclipsed Mark Zuckerberg to become the world’s second-wealthiest person, and overnight, he overtook Elon Musk for the number-one spot – though the Tesla chief reclaimed the ranking by the close of trade on Wall Street.

Ellison’s 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 Ellison’s life and career.