At the BNP Paribas Open, Larry Ellison Puts His Money Where His Forehand Is - NYTimes.com: He is Larry Ellison, the tanned chief executive of Oracle, who in 2010 purchased the BNP Paribas Open, a combined ATP Masters 1,000 and WTA premier mandatory event largely considered the lead contender for the colloquial title of the Fifth Slam. Ellison, whose purchase of the tournament allowed it to stay here, is considered something of a savior for the event.
With an estimated net worth of $36 billion, Ellison is listed by Forbes as the third-richest person in the United States (behind Bill Gates and Warren Buffet) and the sixth wealthiest worldwide.