By James Brewer
WSWS.com
22 June 2012

Larry Ellison, CEO of software giant Oracle and the sixth richest man in the world (Forbes magazine), is closing the deal on the purchase of Lanai, a Hawaiian Island. The sale is a particularly overt expression of the domination of the ultra-wealthy over all aspects of social life in the US.

Yacht
The super yacht, Rising Sun, that Ellison had built in 2004

Besides being a ruthless businessman, Ellison is notorious for excelling at the decadent hobbies of the super-rich. In 2004, he contracted the building of 453-foot (138 meter) “superyacht” Rising Sun for an estimated $377 million. The craft is equipped with 82 rooms on five decks, with a combined 86,000 square feet (8,000 square meters) of living space, onyx countertops, onboard cinema and extensive wine cellar. The ship is currently the tenth-longest motor yacht in the world and owned by entertainment industry executive David Geffen.

Ellison is a collector of expensive automobiles and aircraft. He was the winner of the America’s Cup sailboat race, with his multimillion-dollar high-tech multi-hulled craft called the USA-17.

Read More: Billionaire Oracle CEO buys Hawaiian island.