Home Industry Sports Billionaire Larry Ellison&rsqu...
Sports
Business Honor
05 December, 2024
Jolin Zhu, Ellison’s 33-Year-Old Wife, Boosts Michigan’s College Football Recruitment Efforts
Billionaire Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle and the world’s fourth-richest man, is gaining attention not just for his wealth but also for his role in shaping college football recruitment. Recently, Ellison's wife, Jolin Zhu, has been identified as a crucial factor behind the University of Michigan’s successful bid to recruit top-rated high-school quarterback Bryce Underwood. Underwood ultimately decided to commit to Michigan, but initially considered Louisiana State University, with Ellison and Zhu apparently being influential in his decision.
The recruitment success was largely attributed to the efforts of Ellison's wife, who is an alum of the University of Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the institution. Zhu, also known as Keren Zhu, is actively involved in her husband's investments, including in college football. According to sources, she personally engaged with Underwood and his family through a Zoom call, expressing her vision for Michigan's football program.
Nate Forbes, chairman of the Champions Circle booster collective publicly expressed gratitude to both Ellison and Zhu for their crucial financial and strategic contributions. Besides Zhu, other key stakeholders invested in recruiting efforts included retired quarterback Tom Brady, a Michigan alum.
Ellison's influence in sports is not new. His investments already extend to various ventures. His previous marriages have already attracted media attention, his former spouses including high-profiled figures like Melanie Craft and Barbara Boothe. However, it is his partnership with Zhu that has recently attracted interest because of her growing influence in the world of college sports.
This development points toward the increasingly complex intersection of sports, finance, and higher education in which the fate of college athletics is going to be shaped by multimillionaires like Ellison and his wife.