Billionaire Profile

Global Rank

#1421

Image: Oracle PR/Hartmann Studios | CC BY 2.0 | via Wikimedia Commons

Safra Catz

CEO, Software

UNITED STATES

Real-Time Net Worth

$2.903B

Estimated based on Software stock value as of March 6, 2026

+0.15% (24h)

Age

Source

Software,

Industry

Technology

Citizenship

UNITED STATES

Biography

Safra Catz is an Israeli-American business executive and a prominent figure in the technology industry. Currently serving as the Executive Vice Chair of the Oracle board of directors, she previously held the position of CEO for 11 years, stepping down in September 2025. Born in Holon, Israel, and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, Catz earned a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Her career includes significant roles at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette before joining Oracle in 1999. She is known for her strategic acumen, including spearheading Oracle's aggressive acquisition strategy, leading to over 130 acquisitions and driving the company's successful transition to cloud computing. In 2024, she was ranked 17th on the Forbes Worlds Most Powerful Women list and has consistently been recognized as one of the most influential women in business. Her net worth is estimated at $3.1 Billion as of August 2025.

Fact Checked

Verified by Editorial Team

Live Data

Updated 3/6/2026

Wealth Over Time

Portfolio Holdings

Oracle Corp

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Safra Ada Catz was born in December 1961, in Holon, Israel, to Jewish parents. At the age of six, she moved with her family to Brookline, Massachusetts, where she graduated from Brookline High School. She then pursued higher education, earning a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1986.

Rise to Success

Catz began her professional journey in banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. In 1999, she joined Oracle as a senior vice president and swiftly rose through the ranks. She was named an executive vice president soon after and was placed on Oracle's board in 2001. She served as co-president and CFO in 2011 and became co-CEO in 2014. In 2019, she became the sole CEO after Mark Hurd's departure. Under her leadership, Oracle completed over 100 acquisitions and made significant advancements in its cloud transition. Catz was instrumental in repositioning Oracle as a leader in cloud computing. She was ranked 17th on the Forbes Worlds Most Powerful Women 2024. In September 2025, Catz transitioned to the role of Executive Vice Chair at Oracle.

Key Business Strategies

Catz is credited with spearheading Oracle's aggressive acquisition strategy, helping close more than 130 acquisitions. She also led the company's shift to cloud computing, securing major AI-driven contracts. Under her leadership, Oracle signed significant deals with various companies including OpenAI, Meta, NVIDIA, AMD, TikTok, and Uber. Her emphasis on financial discipline, strategic execution, and long-term planning was crucial to Oracle's success.

Philanthropy

Catz has also shown a keen interest in Oracle’s philanthropic efforts, which she oversees.

Career Milestones

1999

Joined Oracle

Joined Oracle as senior vice-president.

2001

Oracle Board Member

Became a member of Oracle's board of directors.

2011

Co-President and CFO

Named co-president and chief financial officer (CFO).

2014

Co-CEO

Appointed as co-CEO of Oracle.

2019

Sole CEO

Became the sole CEO after Mark Hurd's departure.

2025

Executive Vice Chair

Transitioned to the role of Executive Vice Chair at Oracle in September 2025.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Education

Oracle Education Foundation

N/A

Member of the Board of Directors of the Oracle Education Foundation since its founding in 2000 and has served as Chair since 2004.

Business Philosophy & Leadership

Notable Quotes

"“I believe in being prepared, working hard, and never giving up.”"

"“If you're not willing to take risks, you're not going to grow.”"

"“Today, Oracle is recognized as the cloud of choice for both AI training and inferencing. I'm very proud of that.”"

"“The fact is you can recover from being stupid, but you can never recover from being a liar. Integrity matters. Don't be afraid to look stupid, but never let your integrity be compromised.”"

Leadership Principles

Hard work and Preparation

Emphasizes the importance of preparation, hard work, and perseverance.

Risk-Taking

Highlights the necessity of taking calculated risks for growth.

Financial Discipline and Strategic Execution

Blending of financial discipline and strategic execution skills.

Focus on Customer Needs

The focus needs to be where you can add competitive value to your customer and have competitive advantage.

Controversies & Challenges

2017

NetSuite Acquisition Lawsuit

A litigation case began against Larry Ellison and Catz challenging the acquisitions in 2016 of NetSuite by Oracle for $9.4 billion.

2020

Political Donations

Catz and her husband contributed $250,000 to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.

2021

Stock Trading

Catz garnered attention for her stock trading, for acquiring 2.25 million shares through the conversion of derivatives, before selling them on the open market at roughly double the price.

2022

Walt Disney Controversy

As a board member of The Walt Disney Company, Catz's objections to the gay character in Walt Disney Animation Studios' 2022 film Strange World were so strong that she threatened to have then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek fired if the film was released.

2024

Commitment to Israel

Statements reveal the company's commitment to Israel is “unequivocal” raising questions about how Oracle might exercise its impending ownership role at TikTok.

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