Larry Ellison, the 81-year-old chairman of Oracle, and his Hollywood producer son, David Ellison, are positioned to gain unprecedented influence in the U.S. Ellison briefly overtook Elon Musk as the world’s richest man, but his growing power comes from more than just his wealth.
He has direct access to U.S. President Donald Trump, plays a behind-the-scenes role in political decisions, and is building a media empire that could shape what millions of people see and hear across the country and around the globe.
From Clinton Backer to Trump Ally
Ellison’s political journey has been dramatic. In the 1990s, he strongly supported former President Bill Clinton, even joking about changing the U.S. Constitution to allow Clinton a third term.
However, his views shifted over the years. In 2016, Ellison poured millions into Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign but stayed neutral in the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
By 2020, Ellison had taken a more active role. He hosted his first fundraiser for Trump, though he did not personally attend. That same year, he joined a White House committee focused on reviving the U.S. economy during the pandemic.
During Trump’s first term, Ellison explored a partnership with Walmart to buy TikTok, a deal that ultimately fell apart. Trump praised Ellison at the time, calling him “a tremendous guy, a tremendous person.”
After Trump’s defeat in 2020, reports surfaced that Ellison joined a call with Senator Lindsey Graham and Fox News host Sean Hannity to discuss contesting the election results.
Though Ellison has not publicly endorsed Trump in 2024, he has been deeply involved in Trump’s Stargate project, a key initiative since Trump returned to office.
Trump has openly praised Ellison, saying, “In the case of Larry, it’s well beyond technology, he’s sort of CEO of everything.”
Inside Trump’s circle, Ellison is now nicknamed the “shadow president” for his behind-the-scenes role in policy-making and strategy.
Building a Media Empire
Ellison’s influence extends far beyond politics. He is also making bold moves in the media industry, starting with TikTok.
Oracle currently handles TikTok’s U.S. operations. Under a proposed deal, Oracle would retrain TikTok’s recommendation algorithm, giving Ellison control over the content millions of Americans consume daily.
This comes amid concerns that TikTok content fuels anti-Israeli sentiment, especially among younger audiences.
But TikTok is only the beginning. David Ellison’s production company, Skydance, is rapidly expanding. Skydance produces blockbuster films like Mission Impossible, starring Tom Cruise.
In August, David acquired Paramount, the legendary media company that owns CBS News and other major outlets.
Political Drama Over Paramount Deal
The Paramount acquisition was controversial from the start. Earlier this year, Trump blasted CBS News, accusing the network of “deceptively editing” an interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign to favor Democrats.
In July, Paramount settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million, raising suspicions about whether the payment influenced the government’s approval of the merger.
Comedian Stephen Colbert called the settlement a “big, fat bribe” on his CBS show. Days later, Paramount abruptly canceled Colbert’s show, though the company denied it was linked to the deal. Critics accused Trump’s administration of pressuring the network to silence one of Trump’s harshest critics.
After the merger, Skydance wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is led by Trump ally Brendan Carr, promising a full review of CBS operations.
Skydance also vowed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, a move that aligns with Trump’s policies.
Just days later, the FCC approved the merger, giving the Ellisons control over Paramount.
Eyes on Warner Brothers-Discovery
The Ellisons are not stopping at Paramount. Reports suggest they are considering a bid for Warner Brothers-Discovery, the parent company of CNN and HBO.
If successful, this would create one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, rivaling even Rupert Murdoch’s media empire at its peak.
Growing Political Backlash
The rapid rise of the Ellisons’ influence has sparked backlash from Democrats and media watchdogs.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is leading efforts to block any potential Paramount-Warner Brothers merger, calling it a “dangerous concentration of power.”
Warren is reportedly working with Senators Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden to investigate the Skydance-Paramount deal and prevent further consolidation.
The media watchdog group Fair warned, “The Ellison duo taking over both CBS and CNN, as well as controlling a major social media network like TikTok, would be dangerous for democracy. And given their closeness to the Trump regime, that seems to be the point.”
Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, argued that such a merger should be rejected outright on antitrust grounds, citing both ideological concerns and harm to consumers.
However, with Trump firmly in power for another three years, Democrats face an uphill battle to stop the Ellisons’ growing empire.
A New Era of Influence
If successful, Larry and David Ellison will control major social media platforms, top news outlets, and global entertainment companies — all while maintaining close ties to the White House.
Their combined reach could reshape American politics, media, and public opinion, setting the stage for one of the most powerful family dynasties in modern U.S. history.