Employees at Oracle, the tech giant co-founded by Larry Ellison, reportedly received termination emails early on Tuesday, according to various social media posts. The extent of the job cuts is not fully known, but the layoffs appear to have affected staff worldwide. Many individuals on Oracle’s Reddit forum have shared that they were let go through a single email sent just after 6 a.m.
Several LinkedIn users have also mentioned being laid off by Oracle on March 31, with some of the impacted roles located in the company’s cloud computing division. Oracle, established in 1977 by Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates, has been a pioneer in developing the first self-sufficient database and a wide range of AI-powered cloud applications.
As of the end of May 2025, Oracle had approximately 162,000 full-time employees, as per their latest Form 10-K filing. Analysts estimate that the layoffs could affect between 20,000 to 30,000 employees, making it one of the largest downsizing efforts in the company’s history. TD Cowen analysts, led by Michael Elias, projected that cutting this number of jobs could generate additional free cash flow of $8 billion to $10 billion.
In 2022, Oracle slashed thousands of positions following its acquisition of Cerner for $28 billion. Workers in the United States, India, and other countries revealed receiving identical layoff notices from “Oracle Leadership” on Tuesday morning. The abrupt emails stated, “Immediate Action Required – Important Information Regarding Your Employment,” informing employees of their immediate dismissal due to organizational changes.
Shocked employees expressed their surprise at being let go, with some revealing years of service with the company before receiving the termination email. Larry Ellison, the Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Oracle Corporation, is among the wealthiest individuals globally, with a net worth of $179.1 billion.
Ellison has utilized his wealth to invest in real estate, such as the Hawaiian island of Lanai, acquired for $300 million in 2012. He has also expanded into the media industry alongside his son, David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance. The Ellison family’s media empire includes a recent $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, cementing their influence in the entertainment sector.
The recent layoffs at Oracle follow a significant drop in the company’s stock value this year. Analysts highlighted challenges in Oracle’s financial performance, particularly in securing funding for their $500 billion AI data center project known as Stargate with OpenAI. Oracle later announced a $50 billion debt raise to support its AI data center expansion.
During Oracle’s third-quarter earnings report for fiscal 2026, executives reassured investors about the company’s data center investments and projected improvements in profitability. Co-CEO Clay Magouyrk emphasized Oracle’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and reducing construction costs for their facilities, aiming for continual improvement in cost-effectiveness.