A US tech billionaire, who stands to gain significantly from the UK's upcoming digital identity scheme, is secretly constructing an expansive private estate in the Oxfordshire countryside, an investigation by The Mail on Sunday reveals.
The Quiet Acquisition of an Oxfordshire Enclave
Larry Ellison, the fifth-richest person globally and chairman of software giant Oracle, has been methodically purchasing adjacent land and properties to assemble a vast private domain near Abingdon. This marks his first personal residential acquisition within the UK. The development, which began in November 2020, is being orchestrated through an overseas company named Jozu UK LLC, for which Ellison is the sole beneficial owner.
The initial purchase was a contemporary nine-acre estate, bought for £8 million, featuring an indoor pool, gym, sauna, and tennis court. Since then, further acquisitions have followed, including a £10 million collection of properties in May 2024. Planning applications detail intentions to build guest lodges, housing for approximately 20 live-in staff, multiple gyms, an indoor basketball court, and a large stable complex for horses.
Political Connections and a Controversial Digital ID Project
Ellison's UK interests extend far beyond property. His company, Oracle, holds a £700 million IT contract with four Whitehall departments. Furthermore, he has donated a staggering £257 million to a think tank operated by his long-time friend, former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Sir Tony has been a prominent advocate for digital ID cards. Although the Labour government has reversed its plan to make them mandatory for proving the right to work, the scheme is still scheduled for a voluntary launch in 2029, providing access to most public services. Critics suggest Oracle is well-positioned to profit from this initiative. Meetings between Oracle staff, Ellison's technology institute, and government ministers have been frequent, occurring 29 times in nine months following Sir Tony's encouragement.
Local Discontent and a Fortified Compound
The scale of construction has caused significant disruption and frustration among local residents, who wish to remain anonymous. They report constant noise from tree-felling and construction lorries, and complain that bright security lights now obscure the once-clear night sky. The project's ownership was initially kept secret, and the site is now patrolled by security guards with dogs and monitored by numerous CCTV cameras on tall poles facing public roads.
"He can do anything he likes because he is occasionally the richest man in the world," one neighbour stated. "It irritates us beyond belief because this is supposed to be quiet countryside." Another noted Ellison's reclusive nature, suggesting the extensive facilities are being built "so he doesn't have to leave."
The estate is strategically located, just a 20-minute drive from the site of the £1 billion Ellison Institute of Technology campus and 40 minutes from Tony Blair's Buckinghamshire mansion. The development underscores Ellison's deepening commitment to his UK interests, against a backdrop of major government contracts and influential political friendships.
