Oracle Corporation Co-founder Larry Ellison He has said his marriage ended over disagreements over the purchase of a sailboat.
In his 2016 USC commencement address, Ellison recalled his early years growing up on Chicago’s South Side, where becoming a doctor was seen as the ultimate measure of success.
He says that dream, with the support of his family, teachers and girlfriend, grew into his own — although it never really clicked.
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Ellison recalled his struggles in premed classes and realizing he had little interest in the path laid out for him.
“I couldn’t bring myself to be who I thought I was supposed to be,” he said, adding that he eventually dropped out of college at age 21 and moved to California.
After settling in Berkeley in the 1960s, Ellison immersed himself in environmental causes, working as a river guide and rock climbing instructor in Yosemite National Park while working part-time as a computer programmer to pay the bills.
He describes this period as one of personal discovery and relative happiness.
However, his wife disagreed. Ellison said she wanted stability — a full-time programming job or a return to college. Nervousness came to a head when he decided to buy a sailboat after taking sailing lessons.
“My wife said it was the stupidest idea she had ever heard in her life. She accused me of being irresponsible and told me I lacked ambition,” Ellison said.
This disagreement led to his eviction from the home and eventual divorce. Ellison called it a “pivotal moment” in his life.
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The Oracle co-founder said the divorce forced him to confront a recurring theme: living up to others’ expectations.
This time, however, he was not disappointed with himself. “Their dreams are different from my dreams,” he said. “I will never confuse the two of them again.”
He continued to live on a sailboat with his cat and continued to explore different jobs and interests, eventually being drawn to Silicon Valley startups.
