Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison Buys Hawaiian Island of Lanai

By - Source: SFGate

It's good to be Larry.

Larry Ellison is a wealthy, wealthy man. How wealthy? Wealthy enough to drop hundreds of millions of dollars on his very own Hawaiian island. Late last night it emerged that Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Software, had just purchased Hawaii's sixth largest island, Lanai.

The news was revealed in a statement released by Neil Abercrombie, the Governer of Hawaii. Abercrombie revealed that Ellison purchased 98 percent of Lanai from landowner Castle & Cooke, which recently filed a transfer application with the Public Utilities Commision. Castle & Cooke sold its full 98 percent share of the island's 141 square miles to Ellison. The other two percent is thought to be owned by the state.

Landowner Castle & Cooke has filed a transfer application with the Public Utilities Commission.  Castle & Cooke owns 98 percent of the island’s 141 square miles. The buyer is Lawrence Ellison, co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation.

"It is my understanding that Mr. Ellison has had a long standing interest in Lanai," Governer Abercrombie said in a statement. "His passion for nature, particularly the ocean is well known specifically in the realm of America's Cup sailing. He is also a businessman whose record of community involvement in medical research and education causes is equally notable.We look forward to welcoming Mr. Ellison in the near future."

Lanai has a population of over 3,000 people. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the residents find the the sale of the island a bit weird.

"It's kind of strange that in 2012, a medieval system of having one man own an island in the middle of the state, on which 3,000 people live, can still exist," Robin Kaye, a Lanai resident since 2005, told the paper. "It's very bizarre."

Ellison hasn't mentioned any specific plans for his new purchase, but SFC reports he plans to invest in the island. Residents are hoping he'll kill off plans to build windmills on the island. David Murdock, owner of Castle & Cooke, had intended to build 170 power-generating windmills on the island, but residents are hopeful Larry will kill that idea off.

Included in the sale of the island are the Four Seasons Resorts Lanai at Manele Bay, and the Four Seasons Resorts Lanai, Lodge at Koele, as well two championship golf courses and clubhouses.

Follow @JaneMcEntegart on Twitter.                        


There are 21 Comments. B
Top Comments
  • 20 Ð
    djscribbles , June 22, 2012 3:26 AM
    Step 1: Buy Island
    Step 2: Send Eviction notices
    Step 3: Build volcano laboratory
    Step 4: Finish Doomsday device
    Step 5: Profit
Other Comments
  • 6 Ð
    jakes69 , June 22, 2012 3:16 AM
    just you guys know...I own the other 2%. ;-)
  • 6 Ð
    Zagen30 , June 22, 2012 3:16 AM
    It's good to be the king.
  • 20 Ð
    djscribbles , June 22, 2012 3:26 AM
    Step 1: Buy Island
    Step 2: Send Eviction notices
    Step 3: Build volcano laboratory
    Step 4: Finish Doomsday device
    Step 5: Profit
  • 3 Ð
    SinisterSalad , June 22, 2012 3:30 AM
    " Castle & Cooke sold its full 98 percent share of the island's 141 square miles to Ellison. The other two percent is thought to be owned by the state."

    and then the next paragraph...

    "Castle & Cooke owns 98 percent of the island’s 141 square miles."

    I think I got it the first time. :|

    " Residents are hoping he'll kill off plans to build windmills on the island"

    Then, same paragraph...

    "..., but residents are hopeful Larry will kill that idea off."

    Just... wow...



  • 1 Ð
    alxianthelast , June 22, 2012 3:30 AM
    Priceless.
  • -1 Ð
    Tuishimi , June 22, 2012 3:31 AM
    He'll probably sue Google for google maps showing images of his island.
  • -2 Ð
    Gigahertz20 , June 22, 2012 3:36 AM
    DjScribblesStep 1: Buy IslandStep 2: Send Eviction noticesStep 3: Build volcano laboratoryStep 4: Finish Doomsday deviceStep 5: Profit



    He's on his way to becoming the next Bond villain, lol.
  • 0 Ð
    Travis Beane , June 22, 2012 3:58 AM
    Zagen30It's good to be the king.

    I now feel inferior to this man in every way conceivable.
  • -2 Ð
    jupiter optimus maximus , June 22, 2012 4:32 AM
    I can see CEO of Oracle being possessed by the Hawaiian gods.
  • -3 Ð
    anonymous@guest , June 22, 2012 4:46 AM
    "It's kind of strange that in 2012, a medieval system of having one man own an island in the middle of the state, on which 3,000 people live, can still exist," Robin Kaye, a Lanai resident since 2005, told the paper. "It's very bizarre."

    Perhaps Ellison will move on to a 21st century "green" approach of demolishing "the Four Seasons Resorts Lanai at Manele Bay, and the Four Seasons Resorts Lanai, Lodge at Koele, as well two championship golf courses and clubhouses."

    So after Ellison returns Lanai to a state of nature, Robin Kaye can pack up her belongings and move her butt off this natural wonderland. I'm sure she would agree that that isn't "bizarre".
  • 3 Ð
    Super_Nova , June 22, 2012 5:16 AM
    Travis BeaneI now feel inferior to this man in every way conceivable.

    Well, at least I have a nice personality and a bigger d....
  • 1 Ð
    altriss , June 22, 2012 6:37 AM
    Quote:
    It's kind of strange that in 2012, a medieval system of having one man own an island in the middle of the state, on which 3,000 people live, can still exist

    Yes but the question is : "better one man or one organisation as it was before him?" in both case people don't even own their own houses.
    WTF is wrong with you people?
  • 2 Ð
    anonymous@guest , June 22, 2012 8:06 AM
    they're wind turbines not windmills, windmills mill corn and stuff, wind turbines generate power.. geez
  • 0 Ð
    TheKurrgan , June 22, 2012 8:57 AM
    SinisterSalad" Castle & Cooke sold its full 98 percent share of the island's 141 square miles to Ellison. The other two percent is thought to be owned by the state."and then the next paragraph..."Castle & Cooke owns 98 percent of the island’s 141 square miles."I think I got it the first time. :|" Residents are hoping he'll kill off plans to build windmills on the island"Then, same paragraph..."..., but residents are hopeful Larry will kill that idea off."Just... wow...


    Lets not forget the word "governer" which I had to FIGHT MY COMPUTER TO EVEN SPELL IN THAT WAY IN THIS REPLY.

    Editor fail.
  • 1 Ð
    sigma3d , June 22, 2012 9:33 AM
    now he can play minecraft on his own paradise...
  • 0 Ð
    Darkerson , June 22, 2012 10:02 AM
    Must. Be. Nice.
  • 0 Ð
    aggroboy , June 22, 2012 5:39 PM
    DjScribblesStep 1: Buy IslandStep 2: Send Eviction noticesStep 3: Build volcano laboratoryStep 4: Finish Doomsday deviceStep 5: Profit

    Launch Doomsday device at SAP headquarters
  • -2 Ð
    GoldenI , June 22, 2012 5:49 PM
    Spends hundreds of millions on an island for himself, huh? I wonder how much he's given to charities.
  • 0 Ð
    hoofhearted , June 22, 2012 8:20 PM
    Super_NovaWell, at least I have a nice personality and a bigger d....


    I am sure he can buy that (maybe in Sweden) too.
  • 0 Ð
    anonymous@guest , June 23, 2012 3:29 AM
    He wont evict, he will just charge unbelievably high taxes on everything the islanders need to do.
Display more comments
Tom’s guide in the world
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Ireland
  • UK
Follow Tom’s guide
Subscribe to our newsletter