Larry Ellison’s Florida Real Estate Moves and Paramount Bid Signal Ambitions Beyond Tech

Larry Ellison’s $450 Million Bet on Manalapan, Florida

It’s easy to picture Larry Ellison as the classic Silicon Valley mogul—a billionaire who helped shape the digital age through Oracle. But in recent years, Ellison’s ambitions have spilled far beyond databases and software, and nowhere is that clearer than in the sun-drenched, ultra-exclusive town of Manalapan, Florida. In just three years, Ellison has invested a staggering $450 million into local real estate, transforming a community of just 400 residents into a magnet for America’s elite. According to Fortune, Ellison’s spending spree began in 2022, setting a Florida record with his $173 million acquisition of a sprawling 16-acre estate that stretches from the Atlantic beachfront to the lakeshore. Then, in August 2024, he shelled out $277 million for the town’s largest structure—the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, a 300-room hotel steeped in history.

This isn’t just another trophy property for Ellison. The Eau Palm Beach stands on the grounds of the old La Coquille Club, a place that once hosted the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the titans of the Ford and Vanderbilt dynasties. While the original club is long gone, its legacy lives on in the resort’s exclusive beach club, now offering membership to Manalapan property owners with zero initiation fees or annual dues. For Ellison, who’s known for reimagining luxury properties (he owns the majority of Hawaii’s Lanai island and its Four Seasons resorts), this is a chance to remake a piece of Florida’s coastline in his own style.

A New Magnet for the Wealthy—and the Power Brokers

Ellison isn’t alone in his Florida fascination. The state’s luxury property market has become a playground for the ultra-rich, with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Citadel’s Ken Griffin snapping up multimillion-dollar estates nearby. In Manalapan, prices have soared, and the mayor, John Deese, is enthusiastic about the change: “We feel very fortunate that Mr. Ellison and others chose Manalapan for their residential and commercial property investments,” he told Fortune.

But it’s not just the money that’s transforming Manalapan. The town sits just 20 minutes from Mar-a-Lago, the so-called “Winter White House” of President $1 Trump. According to Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Sachs, proximity to Mar-a-Lago has added a new layer of cachet, drawing high-profile visitors and fueling the area’s “moment.” As one local developer put it, Ellison’s plans for the Eau Palm Beach could become the centerpiece of the town’s social scene.

Ellison’s Signature Touch: Technology Meets Hospitality

If there’s a signature to Ellison’s investments, it’s his drive to blend technology and hospitality. On Lanai, he remodeled the Four Seasons resorts with lavish amenities—think $21,000-per-night suites, iPad Airs for guests to order services, and grotto-style pools. In Manalapan, he’s already begun upgrading the Eau Palm Beach, bringing in a pop-up Nobu restaurant that quickly became a permanent fixture, replacing the former Polpo Palm Beach. Nobu isn’t just a culinary favorite for Ellison; it’s also the setting for business negotiations with fellow tech titans, like last year’s dinner with Elon Musk and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, where Ellison reportedly picked up the tab.

All of this is more than just luxury for luxury’s sake. It’s a calculated move to make Manalapan irresistible to a new wave of high-net-worth buyers. The area’s real estate market, already known for eye-popping prices, is now being supercharged by Ellison’s presence and vision.

From Real Estate to Hollywood: Ellison’s Paramount Play for Warner Bros. Discovery

Ellison’s reach doesn’t stop at Florida’s coast. In December 2025, his name surfaced in Hollywood headlines, tied to a blockbuster bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Through Paramount, Ellison agreed to personally guarantee a revised offer for WBD, signaling intense commitment to the entertainment industry’s future. The $30 per share, fully financed all-cash offer—announced by David Ellison—positions Paramount as a rival to Netflix, which recently inked its own deal for WBD’s streaming and studios business (Hollywood Reporter).

Paramount sweetened its bid with a $5.8 billion termination fee and extended its tender offer deadline to January 21, 619, giving WBD shareholders more time to consider. As of December 19, only a small fraction of WBD’s 2.4 billion shares had been tendered, but the revised offer aims to address lingering concerns, including foreign financing and the value of WBD’s linear networks.

David Ellison’s statement is unequivocal: “Our acquisition will be superior for all WBD stakeholders, as a catalyst for greater content production, greater theatrical output, and more consumer choice.” The message is clear—Ellison isn’t just buying properties; he’s buying influence, and perhaps a future role in shaping Hollywood itself.

What Drives Ellison’s Expansion?

So, what’s behind this pivot from tech titan to real estate and media mogul? In both Florida and Hollywood, Ellison is leveraging his vast resources to reshape established industries—injecting capital, vision, and a dash of Silicon Valley boldness. Whether it’s transforming sleepy beach towns into playgrounds for the rich or challenging Netflix for control of a media empire, Ellison’s moves are strategic, not sentimental.

His Florida investments aren’t isolated gestures; they’re part of a larger pattern of billionaire migration to the state, driven by tax advantages, political connections, and lifestyle upgrades. Meanwhile, his Hollywood gambit reflects the changing dynamics of media ownership, where deep pockets and personal guarantees can tilt the balance in high-stakes corporate battles.

Ellison’s actions show a restless ambition: he’s not content with his legacy in technology alone. By reshaping both the physical landscape of Florida and the future of Hollywood, he’s building influence in spheres where money, vision, and timing matter most. For Manalapan and for Warner Bros. Discovery, the next chapter may well bear Ellison’s imprint—whether as a neighbor, a host, or a media kingmaker.