Larry Ellison moves to Florida just 20 minutes from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: One of Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures has traded Pacific breezes for Palm Beach palm trees.

Larry Ellison, the 81-year-old Oracle co-founder and one of the richest men on the planet, has officially shifted his primary residence from the Hawaiian island of Lanai (which he famously bought for $300 million in 2012) to Manalapan, Florida, a short drive from Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's private residence.

Ellison has now designated his Manalapan estate as his main home. The ocean-to-lake compound spans roughly 16 acres and set a Florida record when it was bought for $173 million in 2021. It was the most expensive home ever sold in the state at the time.

It’s not his first investment in Trump’s backyard. Back in 2020, Ellison quietly picked up a mansion in North Palm Beach for $80 million. Since then, he has steadily expanded his South Florida footprint. In 2024, he spent $277 million to acquire the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. That added yet another marquee property to a real estate portfolio reportedly valued at around $1 billion.

In 2020, he hosted a fundraiser for Trump at his Rancho Mirage, California, estate.

High-stakes media showdown

The relocation comes as Ellison’s son, David Ellison, appears to be locked in a high-profile corporate battle.

David, 43, serves as CEO of Paramount and is spearheading a bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery (the entertainment giant behind studios and networks including CNN, HBO, and HGTV) along with a library of film and television titles.

The takeover effort, however, has not been straightforward. After the Ellisons’ $108 billion offer was rejected last year in favor of a competing proposal from Netflix, the father-son team pivoted to shareholders in a hostile takeover maneuver.

Netflix has put forward an $82.7 billion all-cash offer, valuing shares at $27.50 apiece. Paramount has countered with a $31-per-share bid. The Department of Justice is currently reviewing Netflix’s proposal.

Warner Bros Discovery has since reopened discussions with Paramount, which reportedly has until Monday to submit a final proposal, the New York Times reported.

As the clock ticks, the Ellisons are reportedly highlighting relationships as part of their pitch. David has donated to Joe Biden in the past, while his father is known as a major Republican donor.

Political crosscurrents in bidding war

On Tuesday, David Ellison attended Trump’s State of the Union address as a guest of Lindsey Graham. Graham, 70, shared a photo on X of the two smiling and giving a thumbs-up, saying he was “honored” to have the 43-year-old executive as his guest.

David has also reportedly reassured Trump that if Paramount succeeds in its bid, he would overhaul CNN like the changes he oversaw at CBS News, including installing journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief.

Meanwhile, Trump over the weekend called on Netflix’s board to remove former Obama and Biden administration official Susan Rice, “or pay the consequences.”

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos responded on the BBC’s 'Today' program by saying Trump “likes to do a lot of things on social media.”