The phrase “Larry Ellison ex wife” can refer to more than one person because Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has had several marriages. His personal life has attracted attention partly because his career made him one of the most influential figures in technology and partly because several of the women he married had interesting connections to his life and family. Ellison’s documented marriages include Adda Quinn, Nancy Wheeler Jenkins, Barbara Boothe, and romance novelist Melanie Craft. More recent biographical reporting has also described a later marriage to Jolin Zhu, meaning that older sources listing Melanie Craft as his current or most recent wife are now outdated.
For people searching specifically for Larry Ellison’s ex wife, it is important to understand the difference between his former spouses. Adda Quinn was his first wife, Nancy Wheeler Jenkins was his second, Barbara Boothe was his third and the mother of his two children, and Melanie Craft was his fourth wife. Each relationship occurred during a different stage of Ellison’s remarkable rise from programmer to Oracle founder and billionaire technology executive.
This article examines the documented history of Larry Ellison’s marriages, his former wives, his children, and what is publicly known about his personal life today. Because some online biographies contain conflicting dates or incomplete information, the focus here is on established biographical and contemporary reporting rather than unsupported claims.
Who Was Larry Ellison’s First Wife, Adda Quinn?
Adda Quinn was Larry Ellison’s first wife. The two married in 1967, when Ellison was still many years away from building Oracle into a global technology company. Their marriage lasted until 1974. EBSCO’s biographical research identifies Quinn as Ellison’s girlfriend before their marriage and records the seven-year relationship ending in divorce.
The timing of this marriage is important when looking at Ellison’s life story. He was born Lawrence Joseph Ellison in New York in 1944 and was raised in Chicago after being adopted as an infant by his maternal great-aunt and her husband. He later attended the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago without completing a degree before moving into computer programming in California. His major entrepreneurial breakthrough came later, when he co-founded Software Development Laboratories in 1977, the company that eventually became Oracle. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Very little reliable public information is available about Adda Quinn’s life after the divorce. She did not become a public celebrity through Ellison’s later success, and mainstream biographies generally mention her only in connection with their marriage. That lack of information is important because numerous celebrity websites sometimes imply details about former spouses that cannot be independently confirmed.
What Happened to Larry Ellison and Nancy Wheeler Jenkins?
Larry Ellison’s second marriage was to Nancy Wheeler Jenkins. Sources differ slightly on the year they first married, with major biographical references generally placing the marriage in 1977 and its end in 1978. The relationship was extremely brief and coincided with a crucial period in Ellison’s professional development. CNN’s biographical fast facts list Nancy Wheeler as Ellison’s wife from 1977 to 1978. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Nancy’s connection to Ellison is especially notable because their marriage occurred around the creation of Software Development Laboratories. Ellison and partners Robert Miner and Ed Oates founded the company in 1977, initially developing database software. The business was later renamed Relational Software and ultimately Oracle, becoming one of the defining technology companies of the modern era. “larry ellison ex wife”.
One often-repeated detail about the divorce concerns Nancy’s interest in the company. Biographical accounts state that she sold her shares in the young company back to Ellison for $500 after the divorce. Because the business was still in its early stages at the time, the decision has become an often-cited anecdote in stories about Ellison’s entrepreneurial journey. It also illustrates how dramatically Oracle’s value changed after its early years. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Who Was Barbara Boothe, Larry Ellison’s Third Wife?
Barbara Boothe was Larry Ellison’s third wife and arguably the most significant of his former spouses in terms of family history. Ellison married Boothe in 1983, and their marriage ended in 1986. Contemporary and biographical sources identify Boothe as a former receptionist who worked for the company that preceded Oracle’s later corporate identity. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Ellison and Barbara Boothe had two children, David Ellison and Megan Ellison. Their children later established major careers in Hollywood, creating a second generation of the family with a major presence in entertainment rather than technology. People reported that after their parents divorced in 1986, David and Megan were raised by their mother on a California horse farm, where she encouraged discipline and an appreciation for movies. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Barbara’s importance in Larry Ellison’s biography therefore extends beyond the marriage itself. She is the mother of two highly successful film producers who inherited both the opportunities and the expectations associated with being part of Ellison’s family. Although Barbara has generally maintained a much lower public profile than her former husband and children, her role in raising David and Megan has become part of the family’s public history.
Who Is Melanie Craft, Larry Ellison’s Ex Wife?
Melanie Craft is perhaps the former wife most frequently associated with searches for “Larry Ellison ex wife” because their relationship received substantial media attention. Craft is a romance novelist, and Ellison married her on December 18, 2003, at his estate in Woodside, California. The wedding itself was notable because Ellison’s close friend Steve Jobs served as the official wedding photographer, while Representative Tom Lantos officiated. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Their relationship lasted until 2010, when the marriage ended in divorce. EBSCO and other established biographical sources record Craft as Ellison’s fourth wife and identify the marriage as lasting from 2003 to 2010. The relationship occurred when Ellison was already an internationally famous technology billionaire, making the couple a frequent subject of media interest. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Craft’s professional identity is also worth noting because she was not simply known as Larry Ellison’s wife. She worked as a novelist and had a career of her own before and during their marriage. However, like several of Ellison’s former spouses, she has maintained a relatively private public presence since their divorce. Reliable sources provide far more information about the marriage than about her current personal circumstances.
How Many Times Has Larry Ellison Been Married?
For many years, authoritative biographies stated that Larry Ellison had been married four times. Those marriages were to Adda Quinn, Nancy Wheeler Jenkins, Barbara Boothe, and Melanie Craft. CNN’s biographical records published over several years reflect those four marriages, with Craft listed as his wife from 2003 to 2010. “larry ellison ex wife”.
However, more recent reporting has changed the picture of Ellison’s current relationship status. Biography.com reported in 2025 that Ellison is married to Jolin Zhu, a former University of Michigan student, and noted that the marriage became publicly known after a Michigan sports organization referred to Zhu as Ellison’s wife. The report described the relationship as having been kept largely private. “larry ellison ex wife”.
This update explains why older articles can be confusing when researching Larry Ellison’s wife or ex wife. Sources written before the newer reporting may describe Melanie Craft as his current or most recent wife without mentioning a later marriage. For an up-to-date biography, it is therefore necessary to distinguish between historical records and more recent reporting.
Larry Ellison’s Children and His Former Wife Barbara Boothe
Larry Ellison has two children, David Ellison and Megan Ellison, both from his marriage to Barbara Boothe. Their professional achievements have made them prominent in their own right. David became a major film producer and founded Skydance Media, while Megan established Annapurna Pictures and became known for producing critically acclaimed films. “larry ellison ex wife”.
David Ellison’s career became particularly prominent after Skydance merged with Paramount Global in 2025. Biography.com reported that David became CEO and chairman of Paramount following the merger. His producing credits include major commercial projects, while his leadership placed him at the center of a significant transformation in the entertainment industry. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Megan Ellison followed a different path in film production. Through Annapurna Pictures, she became associated with movies such as Zero Dark Thirty, American Hustle, and Her. People reported that she became the first woman to receive two Academy Award nominations for Best Picture in the same year, highlighting the unusual level of success achieved by both of Ellison’s children. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Did Larry Ellison’s Ex Wives Receive Part of His Fortune?
Questions about Larry Ellison’s ex wives often lead to speculation about divorce settlements and the enormous fortune he accumulated through Oracle. It is important to distinguish between documented financial information and assumptions. Although Ellison’s marriages and divorces are well documented, detailed private settlement terms for each former wife are not broadly established in authoritative public sources. “larry ellison ex wife”.
The most frequently discussed financial story involves Nancy Wheeler Jenkins and the early shares associated with Ellison’s company. Historical accounts state that she sold her stake back to Ellison for $500 after their divorce. At that time, Software Development Laboratories was still a young startup, and its eventual transformation into Oracle was not yet apparent. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Ellison later became one of the world’s wealthiest technology entrepreneurs through his ownership of Oracle and other investments. That enormous later fortune should not automatically be projected backward onto his earlier divorces. Without reliable documentation, claims about specific divorce payouts, settlements, or financial agreements should be treated cautiously rather than repeated as established facts.
Larry Ellison’s Life After His Divorces
Larry Ellison’s professional life continued to expand dramatically after his earlier marriages ended. He founded Software Development Laboratories in 1977 with Robert Miner and Ed Oates, and the business evolved into Oracle. Ellison eventually became one of the defining executives of the technology industry, while Oracle grew into a major provider of database, enterprise software, and cloud technology. “larry ellison ex wife”.
His interests also extended far beyond software. Ellison became known for sailing and competitive involvement in the America’s Cup, as well as major property holdings and other luxury interests. He purchased approximately 98 percent of the Hawaiian island of Lanai in 2012 for about $300 million, according to Biography.com. His wealth has fluctuated significantly with Oracle’s market value, making him a frequent presence on global billionaire rankings. “larry ellison ex wife”.
His personal life also remained a subject of public curiosity after the divorce from Melanie Craft. He had a long relationship with Ukrainian-American model and actress Nikita Kahn, and recent reporting has identified Jolin Zhu as his wife. The changing descriptions demonstrate why current-date verification matters when writing about Larry Ellison’s relationship history.
What Are Larry Ellison’s Ex Wives Doing Today?
There is substantially less reliable information about the present-day lives of Larry Ellison’s former wives than about Ellison himself. Adda Quinn and Nancy Wheeler Jenkins have largely remained outside the modern celebrity and business press. Their marriages are well documented historically, but detailed information about their current careers, residences, finances, or private lives is not widely available from authoritative sources. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Barbara Boothe has received somewhat more attention because of her children. Public reporting has described her role in raising David and Megan after her divorce from Ellison. People reported that the children grew up with their mother on a California horse farm, and both eventually became major figures in film production. “larry ellison ex wife”.
Melanie Craft likewise has a documented career as a novelist but has generally kept a low profile since her 2010 divorce from Ellison. Because these women are private individuals rather than public corporate figures, it would be inappropriate to fill gaps in their biographies with unverified claims. The safest and most accurate approach is to report what reputable sources establish and acknowledge what remains unknown.
Larry Ellison Ex Wife: The Bigger Picture and Conclusion
The phrase “Larry Ellison ex wife” does not identify one single woman. Ellison has had several former wives whose relationships occurred at different stages of his extraordinary life. Adda Quinn was his first wife from 1967 to 1974, Nancy Wheeler Jenkins was his second wife during the late 1970s, Barbara Boothe was his third wife and the mother of David and Megan Ellison, and Melanie Craft was his fourth wife from 2003 until their 2010 divorce.
Among these relationships, Barbara Boothe is particularly important to Ellison’s family story because her two children became successful entertainment executives and producers. Melanie Craft is particularly prominent in public searches because her marriage to Ellison took place when he was already one of the world’s most famous technology billionaires. Nancy Wheeler Jenkins is remembered for her brief marriage and the often-cited story concerning her early stake in Ellison’s company. Adda Quinn represents the earliest documented marriage in Ellison’s adult life.
Ultimately, researching Larry Ellison’s ex wives requires careful attention to dates and sources. Older biographies commonly describe four marriages, while newer reporting indicates that Ellison later married Jolin Zhu. The former wives remain part of the personal history behind one of Silicon Valley’s most influential entrepreneurs, but their individual lives should not be exaggerated beyond what reliable evidence supports. The clearest picture is that Ellison’s relationships have changed repeatedly over the decades, while his family legacy continues through his children and their own major careers.
