Lawrence Ellison

Oracle founder's fortune continues to soar; shares up 70% in past 12 months. Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years. Completed $7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in January; acquired BEA Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008. Studied physics at U. of Chicago; didn't graduate. Started Oracle 1977; took public a day before Microsoft in 1986. Owns 52% stake in business-software company NetSuite; shares worth $480 million. Racing junkie owns 453-foot yacht Rising Sun with pal David Geffen. Won America's Cup in February, besting longtime rival billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli.