What follows is a transcript of the speech delivered by Larry Ellison, CEO
of ORACLE (2nd Richest Man on the Planet) at Yale University last month:

Graduates of Yale University, I apologize if you have endured this type of prologue before, but I want you to do something for me. Please, take a good look around you. Look at the classmate on your left. Look at the
classmate on your right. Now, consider this: Five years from now, 10 years from now, even 30 thirty years from now, odds are the person on your left is going to be a loser.

The person on your right, meanwhile, will also be a loser. And you, in the middle? What can you expect? Loser. Loserhood. Loser Cum Laude.

In fact, as I look out before me today, I don't see a thousand hopes for a bright tomorrow. I don't see a thousand future leaders in a thousand industries. I see a thousand losers. You're upset. That's
understandable.

After all, how can I, Lawrence 'Larry' Ellison, college dropout, have the audacity to spout such heresy to the graduating class of one of the nation's most prestigious institutions?

I'll tell you why. Because I, Lawrence 'Larry' Ellison, second richest man on the planet, am a college dropout, and you are not. Because Bill Gates, richest man on the planet -- for now, anyway -- is a college
dropout, and you are not. Because Paul Allen, the third richest man on the planet, dropped out of college and you did not. And for good measure, because Michael Dell, No. 9 on the list and moving up fast, is a college
dropout,and you, yet again, are not.

Hmm... you're very upset. That's understandable. So let me stroke your
egos for a moment by pointing out, quite sincerely, that your diplomas were not attained in vain. Most of you, I imagine, have spent four to five years here, and in many ways what you've learned and endured will serve you well in the years ahead. You've established good work habits. You've
established a network of people that will help you down the road. And you've established what will be lifelong relationships with the word 'therapy.'

All of that is good. For in truth, you will need that network. You will need those
strong work habits. You will need that therapy. You will need them because you didn't drop out, and so you will never be among the richest people in the world. Oh sure, you may, perhaps, work your way up to No. 10 or No. 11, like Steve Ballmer. But then, I don't have to tell you who he really works for, do I? And for the record, he dropped out of grad school. Bit of a late bloomer.

Finally, I realize that many of you, and hopefully by now most of you, are wondering, 'Is there anything I can do? Is there any hope for me at all?'

Actually, no. It's too late. You've absorbed too much, think you know too much. You're not 19 anymore. You have a built-in cap, and I'm not referring to the mortar boards on your heads. Hmm... you're really very upset. That's understandable. So perhaps this would be a good time to bring up the silver lining. Not for you, Class of '00. You are a write-off, so I'll let you slink off to your pathetic $200,000-a-year jobs, where your
checks will be signed by former classmates who dropped out two years ago.

Instead, I want to give hope to any underclassmen here today. I say to you, and I can't stress this enough: leave. Pack your things and your ideas and don't come back. Drop out. Start up. For I can tell you that a cap and gown will keep you down just as surely as these security guards dragging me off this stage are keeping me dow..."

 

That SOB is one arrogant Bastard!

What does he drive???

 

 

I don't think he drives not when you are the 2nd richest man in the world...

 

He has a McLaren F1 that was brought over illegally and the DOT is trying to track it down to have it destroyed!!

Serious sheet! They don't ship the car back, they DESTROY IT!

 

I doubt if this guy drives very much, but rather, is driven. I would also imagine that if you surveyed dropouts versus grads you would find the grads much more successful than the drops as a general rule.

 

He's probably got flown a lot in his corporate private jet...Rich sucker!

 

last i checked he had several NSX's (i think one in each color) a ferrari, and a Lear Jet...I'm sure he has more! lots more!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by yu888:
[B]last i checked he had several NSX's (i think one in each color)

 

I found that quite amusing. Actually so amusing that it reminds me of seeing Michael Dell when I worked there. I've driven by his estate a few times while trekking across the Westlake hills. But as for Michael himself, I've only seen him twice - once during a speech and the second time was for a tornado warning (remember Jarrell?) several years ago. Its quite interesting to think this guy next standing next to you is that loaded. And again, he's just an normal joe like you and I. College dropout at UT, indeed. Yet, the odd thing about Dell Computer Corporation, for most of the jobs there, you must have a four year degree to even apply. Don't you find that odd?

Its another reason why I hate that place. I have a degree, but I don't like education being part of the minimum requirements to get in the door. Experience is key. Education helps. But work ethics are even more important in my book. Perhaps that's why I'll never be one of those richest guys out there. And I sincerely hope I don't. That is why I'll be a poor manager - because I usually expect next to nothing because I feel that my employees (should I have them) will do crappy work, and I'll end up doing it all myself.

/ramble