Woman Missed Out On Billions After She Divorced Man Who Went On To Be World's 4th Richest Person

Little did she know, this decision would precede him becoming one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet.

Imagine watching your former spouse become a self-made billionaire and the fourth richest person in the world, knowing you took only $500 to relinquish any stake in his company during your divorce.

Sure, they say money isn't everything, but you've got to feel a pinch in a scenario like this.

This is exactly what happened to Nancy Wheeler, the ex-wife of tech mogul Larry Ellison. 

Larry Ellison's ex-wife potentially missed out on billions. Credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images

During their divorce, she decided to release any claims on her husband's budding database company for just a few hundred dollars. 

It was a choice made without the knowledge that this company would balloon in value.

This company would eventually transform into Oracle, now a towering giant in the tech industry with a valuation well over $300 million.

Growing up, Larry Ellison harbored a completely different dream—he aspired to be a doctor, a profession he once viewed as the 'pinnacle of success'. 

He reflected on this aspiration during a commencement speech at the University of South California in 2016: 

"Virtually everyone important in my life — my family, my teachers, my girlfriend — wanted me to be a doctor."

Ellison is now the fourth richest person in the world. Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

"Over time, their dreams became my dreams. They convinced me that I should be a doctor."

Despite giving it a go, Ellison realized his heart wasn't in medicine and ended up dropping out of college.

"At the time I thought I lacked discipline and that I was selfish," Ellison shared. 

But he came to a realization, saying, "Maybe so. But whatever the underlying reasons, I was unable to make myself into the person that I thought I should be."

"So I decided to stop trying."

Ellison has owned multiple yachts over the years. Credit: Busa Photography/Getty

Post-college, Ellison's journey took a turn towards environmentalism and the nascent field of computer programming, which he described as a 'self-discovery journey'.

He admitted that this career pivot was not met with enthusiasm by his then-wife.

"I had found a cause. I had a couple of jobs that I loved and one that was fun and paid the bills."

"I was pretty happy with my life — but my wife was not," Ellison revealed.

The marriage between Ellison and Nancy lasted only a year, ending in 1978 when Nancy agreed to sever her ties with Ellison's company for a mere $500.

Fast forward to today, and Ellison's place in the Forbes Billionaires Index sits comfortably at number four, boasting a staggering net worth of $107 billion, largely thanks to the explosive success of Oracle.

He's also known for his previous role on the board of directors at Tesla.

Ellison's wealth has afforded him an array of extravagant possessions, including a $173 million property in Florida and, at one time, an ownership stake in one of the largest yachts on the water.