Michigan’s successful pursuit of No. 1 ranked recruit Bryce Underwood was given a huge helping hand by Larry Ellison, the world’s second-richest man.

Ellison, 80, is the co-founder of software giant Oracle and, according to Forbes, he has a net worth of $237 billion, putting him behind only Tesla, X and Space X boss-turned Donald Trump ally Elon Musk on the global rich list.

Michigan had been desperately trying to flip five-star quarterback Underwood since the Bellville, Michigan native committed to LSU. An NIL battle between the schools began, with Michigan believed to have forked out a deal worth in excess of $10 million to secure Underwood’s commitment.

Ultimately, Underwood was swayed not only by the finances but also by the opportunity to be a hometown hero having grown up just a 30-minute drive from Ann Arbor. But without the influence of a billionaire booster, the deal likely would not have been possible.

“We are very excited to keep Bryce home in Michigan as he continues to build his legacy. I want to personally thank Jolin and Larry Ellison, who were instrumental in making this happen by providing Champions Circle with invaluable guidance and financial resources,” Nate Forbes, chairman of the Michigan Champions Circle NIL collective, said in a statement after Underwood announced his commitment on Thursday.

Underwood announced his commitment to Michigan on Thursday

Underwood announced his commitment to Michigan on Thursday ( 

Image:

AP)

Who is Larry Ellison and what is his net worth?

Born in New York City in 1944, he grew up in middle-class surroundings with his aunt and uncle, who were his adoptive parents. He had short stints at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Chicago, dropping out of both.

He later moved to California due to his interest in computers and programming, which is how he built his fortune. Alongside Bob Miner and Ed Oates, he founded Oracle in 1977 and the company has become a giant in the software world, specialising in data management and cloud solutions.

Oracle reported annual revenue in excess of $50 billion earlier this year. Ellison owns approximately 40 percent of the company, which has grown immensely in recent years by acquiring other businesses, including electronic health records company Cerner, three years ago.

Ellison also had an association with Tesla, joining the board as a director in 2018 after acquiring 45 million shares. He stepped down in 2022.

Could this be Larry Ellison's link to Michigan?

Could this be Larry Ellison’s link to Michigan? ( 

Image:

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Why is he helping Michigan?

That part is a bit more curious. Ellison did not attend Michigan, nor did he grow up in the state. There are no breadcrumbs to be found online linking him to the school in the past, nor is there any information about his relationship with Jolin.

Yet he was seen at the Indian Wells Open tennis tournament in March sitting next to a woman believed to be Jolin, who was wearing a Michigan hat. Ellison bought the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California for $100m in 2009.

Ultimately, head coach Sherrone Moore is happy to have Underwood on board for next season, regardless of who made the deal happen. He posted on X: “YES SIR! The Best players in Michigan go to Michigan.”