Safra Catz

Safra Catz
Born	December 1961 Holon, Israel
Citizenship	United States
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BA, JD)
Occupation	CEO of Oracle Corporation
Spouse	Gal Tirosh (m. 1997)
Children	2

Safra Ada Catz is an Israeli-American billionaire business executive and the longstanding CEO of Oracle Corporation, one of the world's largest enterprise software companies. Known for her strategic acumen, financial discipline, and unwavering leadership, she is considered one of the most powerful women in global business.

Early Life and Education

Born in December 1961 in Holon, Israel, Safra Catz immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of six and was raised in Brookline, Massachusetts. She graduated from Brookline High School before attending the University of Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School in 1983 and a Juris Doctor from Penn Law School in 1986.

Career

Early Career in Finance

Catz began her professional journey as an investment banker at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), rising to the role of Managing Director. Her experience in mergers and acquisitions laid the groundwork for her later role at Oracle, where she would become a key architect of major tech acquisitions.

Rise at Oracle Corporation

In 1999, Catz joined Oracle as Senior Vice President and quickly rose through the ranks:

• Appointed to Oracle's Board of Directors in 2001
• Became President of Oracle in 2004
• Played a central role in the acquisition of PeopleSoft for $10.3 billion in 2005
• Served as Chief Financial Officer during two key periods (2005–2008 and 2011–present)

In 2014, following the departure of Larry Ellison as CEO, Catz and Mark Hurd were appointed as co-CEOs. After Hurd’s passing in 2019, she became the sole CEO of Oracle Corporation.

Under her leadership, Oracle has expanded its cloud infrastructure, completed strategic acquisitions like Cerner, and maintained strong financial performance across global markets.

Influence and Recognition

• Ranked multiple times on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business (11th in 2023)
• Named by Forbes among the most powerful women globally
• Highest-paid female CEO in the U.S. in 2016
• Sixth highest-paid CEO in America in 2022 with $138 million in compensation

Catz also served as a board director for HSBC (2008–2015) and was appointed to The Walt Disney Company board in 2018.

Political and Public Engagement

Catz has been active in U.S. political circles:

• Member of Donald Trump’s transition team in 2016
• Reportedly considered for top positions including U.S. Trade Representative and National Security Advisor
• Donated significantly to Republican causes and candidates

She has also served on the Homeland Security Advisory Council and was a member of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI).

Personal Life

Safra Catz has been married to Gal Tirosh since 1997, with whom she has two sons. The family resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Despite her wealth and influence, she maintains a low public profile and is known for her focus on business over media appearances.

Legacy and Leadership

As one of the few female CEOs leading a major global tech company, Catz has paved the way for women in executive leadership. Her disciplined approach to management, strategic foresight in mergers and acquisitions, and strong alliance with Oracle founder Larry Ellison have positioned her as a cornerstone of Oracle’s continued success in the digital enterprise era.