Behind American billionaire Larry Ellison Indian Wells fame

• American billionaire Larry Ellison is a common figure at the Indian Wells
• Ellison is a familiar sight at the ATP Master 1000 tournament
• He is a co-founder of Oracle

American billionaire Larry Ellison Indian Wells is a common tag and for the right reasons. Ellison is a familiar sight at the ATP Master 1000 tournament.

He sits in the front row every day of the tournament since 2009. He is an ardent tennis lover and you will also catch him taking a stroll at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. His enormous wealth guarantees that players who are lucky enough to participate in the event get a unique experience.

The BNP Paribas Open 2024 has an addition of the Indian Well Tennis Garden Food Village featuring top chefs from across Europe and the US. Therefore; it is no surprise that players consistently rank this tournament highly when asked to choose their favourite Master 1000 event.

WHY IS LARRY ELLISON INDIAN WELLS POPULAR?

Ellison is a co-founder of Oracle which forms the bulk of his wealth portfolio. He has become a popular figure at the Indian Wells tennis over the years because he owns the tournament. He acquired the now-popular Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 2009 and set out on expanding and improving its facilities.

Some of the reasons behind Larry Ellison Indian Wells fame is how he improved player amenities, and upgraded broadcasting capabilities. This investment elevated the tournament’s prestige and player experience.

Larry Ellison at the Indian Wells in California. Photo/CNN

Further, Ellison understood the importance of a thrilling spectacle for fans. He introduced innovations like larger screens, enhanced on-site entertainment, and improved food options. The thought of creating a fantastic fan experience keeps the event’s location a popular destination for spectators.

Moreover, his financial backing allows the tournament to offer a hefty prize pool, attracting the world’s best players. This ensures high-quality matches and keeps fans on the edge of their seats. As a tennis enthusiast, he has fostered close relationships with ATP and WTA players. His high-profile presence and dedication to the sport add to the allure of the event.

WHO IS LARRY ELLISON?

You all know Larry Ellison Indian Wells exploits but not the man who had a challenging childhood.  He was born on August 17, 1944, in New York City, to Florence Spellman who was only 19 years old. He was raised by his aunt. He only reunited with his mother when he was 48 years old. Despite never seeing his mother when he was young, Ellison developed a huge love for technology.

He worked for Ampex Corporation in the 1970s. One of his initiatives was creating a database for the CIA that he called “Oracle.” With two partners and a $2,000 investment—of which $1,200 belonged to Ellison—he formed Software Development Laboratories (SDL) in 1977. The company was inspired by a study on relational database systems produced by Edgar F. Codd titled “A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks.”

Oracle chief technology officer Larry Ellison. Photo/inc.Magazine

Oracle Corporation formed out of this partnership and it expanded through both internal growth and acquisitions. It is currently among the biggest software firms in the world, employing over 130,000 people and operating in more than 175 countries.

Ellison’s net worth is an incredible $139.7 billion, according to the most recent Forbes wealthy list. This positions him as the fifth richest person in the world, behind the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, and the world’s wealthiest family, Bernard Arnault.

His investment in LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton contributed to his estimated $227.6 billion net worth mark.

WHAT DO TENNIS PLAYERS THINK ABOUT LARRY ELLISON?

Indian Wells Tournament director Tommy Haas while speaking to the Boardroom said that Larry Ellison Indian Wells investment has changed everything for the better. Haas points out that Ellison built a 16,000-seater stadium at Tennis Garden thereby giving more tennis fans an opportunity to enjoy tennis more.

Haas further recalls that Ellison’s support thwarted plans to move the tournament to China after a crash in 2008. He also put up a second stadium with modern amenities for players and fans alike which maintains the allure of this tournament.

On the other hand, Novak Djokovic confesses that the BNP Paribas Open is his favourite Masters 1000 event.

“It’s probably the favourite Masters tournament of so many players including myself. I can’t wait to come and perform once again in front of some of the best tennis fans that we have on the tour,” he says.

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal adds that it is encouraging that Ellison gives so much in supporting the ATP Tour.