Larry Ellison as a Case Study of the Power Elite

 

In this image, Larry Ellison stands on stage mid-sentence, holding a microphone with one hand while the other waves through the air, a gesture that comes off as something both effortless and calculated. He is dressed in a muted suit that conveys power without being flashy or demanding attention. The massive red oracle logo looms behind him, framing him as the company's starting point. Ellison is spotlighted by dramatic, almost cinematic lighting as the rest of the scene fades into darkness, providing a literal illustration of what it means to stand at the center of power. There is only him and the infrastructure that he controls in the image, not advisors, an audience, not even a desk. He does not require any self-promotion. The atmosphere, the stage, and the logo are enough. 

Mills presents the notion of a structural condition that allows a small group of elites to hold immense power, even if they are not elected officials or born into political dynasties. A key factor is their institutional standing, which allows them to access the societal decision-making hubs. According to Mills, many of these elites have similar social backgrounds in terms of education, class, and lifestyle, reinforcing their sense of belonging to the same world (Mills, 1956: 19). He explains that the power elite hold their influence by operating within the most dominant institutions of society. Mills states that, “within American society, major national power now resides in the economic, the political, and the military domains” (Mills, 1956: 6). This way of thinking aids in the explanation of how someone like Larry Ellison, whose business dominance intersects with government contracts and wider policy influence, end up with such extensive power. 

Larry Ellison’s rooted position in the political, economic, and increasingly military domain serves as an example of Mills's concept of the power elite. In his role as founder and executive chairman of Oracle, Ellison is in charge of a tech company that provides data infrastructure to major government organizations such as the CIA, ICE, and the Department of Defense. Being at the intersection of all three of Mills’ areas, his company’s work directly supports military and governmental operations. However, Ellison’s dominance is also felt in day-to-day life, especially for people who live on Lāna’i, the Hawaiian island where I was born and raised, and which Ellison now owns 98% of. In addition to being a tech CEO, he is also a landlord, employer, and decision maker on Lāna’i, with an impact on housing, development, environmental legislation, and the island’s future. These powers are derived from his wealth, prestige, and institutional connections rather than democratic processes. As Mills suggests, individuals like Ellison do not simply exist above the public; they operate outside of it. They make these decisions that have broad consequences and are not up for public debate. His possession of Lāna’i is structural rather than symbolic, and it illustrates how the ruling class extends its influence throughout various domains, regions, and spheres of daily life.

Sources:

Kim, Larry. 2015. “30 Suprising Facts about Billionare Tycoon Larry Ellison.” INC, April 14 (https://www.inc.com/larry-kim/30-surprising-facts-about-billionaire-tycoon-larry-ellison.html).

Mills, C. Wright. 1956. “The Higher Circles.” Pp.1-21 in The Power Elite