How Larry Ellison (Oracle co-founder) bought "Pineapple Island"

Hey Lantern Community!

Saw something wild this week that reminded us why we love what we do.

Larry Ellison (Oracle's co-founder) bought an entire Hawaiian island in 2012. Not a house. Not a yacht. An entire island.

For $300 million.

But here's the thing—he didn't sell his Oracle stock to do it.

But first, market update!

He borrowed against his shares instead.

This is exactly what smart money does. They never sell appreciating assets. They borrow against them.

Ellison's strategy:

• Keep his Oracle stock (which kept appreciating)

• Use it as collateral for massive loans

• Buy the island with borrowed money

• Pay interest-only payments

• Never touch his core assets

The result? He owns 98% of Lanai (called "Pineapple Island") and his Oracle stake kept growing.

What he bought vs. what he built

Before Ellison (2012): Lanai was a dying pineapple plantation. For nearly a century, it was just "Pineapple Island"—87,000 acres of farmland that Castle & Cooke wanted to dump.

After Ellison:

• Two Four Seasons luxury resorts

• The Sensei Institute (his wellness research lab)

• Championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus

• A "100% green community" with solar power and aquaponics

• Hundreds of millions more invested beyond the initial purchase

He used loans to maximize the potential of Lanai and transformed it into something entirely new.

The Ellison playbook for regular people:

1. Never sell appreciating assets

2. Borrow against them instead

3. Pay interest-only to preserve cash flow

4. Let your assets keep working for you

This isn't just for billionaires anymore.

At Lantern, we make it simple:

• No credit checks

• Same-day funding

• Interest-only payments

• No liquidation fees

• Your crypto stays safe with BitGo

Want to see what this looks like for you?

Text us: (415) 365-0100 or check our calculator: https://lantern.finance/borrow

Keep your assets. Borrow smart.

The Lantern Team

This newsletter is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with your financial advisor before making lending decisions.