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Mark Zuckerberg Surpasses Larry Ellison to Become the Third Richest Person

Mark Zuckerberg has officially surpassed Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison to claim the title of the third richest person in the world, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaires list.

Key Insights

Zuckerberg’s fortune saw an impressive increase of over 4%, reaching $217.7 billion after Monday’s stock market close, while Ellison’s wealth dipped slightly by 0.3%, totaling $209 billion. This shift in rankings was closely tied to the performance of their respective companies’ stocks: Meta’s share price rose by approximately 4% to $630.20, while Oracle’s stock dropped by 0.3% to $165.78.

On Friday, January 3, Zuckerberg and Ellison briefly swapped positions, but by the end of the day, Ellison held the higher rank. Despite this, Zuckerberg’s rise marks a significant shift in the upper echelons of the billionaire rankings.

Elon Musk remains the wealthiest person globally with $425.2 billion, followed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos with $241 billion.

A Changing Fortune for Ellison

Just a couple of months ago, Larry Ellison’s wealth topped $228 billion, tying him with Bezos for second place. However, in early December, Oracle’s stock suffered a major setback after a financial report revealed disappointing results, causing Ellison’s fortune to dip by $15 billion. Ellison, who owns approximately 40% of Oracle, serves as the company’s chairman, chief technology officer, and co-founder.

In contrast, Zuckerberg, who owns about 13% of Meta, continues to serve as the company’s CEO and chairman.

Political Winds and Tech Fortunes

In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the November election, the fortunes of several tech leaders have surged. Ellison saw a $12 billion boost in the weeks following the election, while Bezos gained $7 billion. Musk saw the most substantial increase, with his wealth rising by nearly $21 billion in the immediate aftermath.

Meta’s Strategic Moves

On Monday, Meta made waves by announcing that UFC President Dana White will join its board of directors. Zuckerberg shared the news on Facebook, alongside the additions of Exor CEO John Elkann and former Microsoft executive Charlie Thornhurst. Zuckerberg expressed confidence in the company’s future, citing vast opportunities in artificial intelligence, wearables, and the evolution of social media. With these new board members, Meta aims to chart a bold course forward in these rapidly growing sectors.

EU Farm Output Prices Decline For The First Time In Nine Months

EU Market Adjustments Signal New Price Trends

Agricultural output prices across the European Union declined in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a shift after several quarters of increases. Data from Eurostat shows that farm gate prices fell by 1.9% compared with the same period in 2024.

Crisis of Declining Prices In Select Markets

Cyprus recorded one of the more notable decreases in agricultural input costs among EU member states, with prices falling by 2.6% compared with Q4 2024. The reduction eased cost pressures for the local agricultural sector following periods of higher prices earlier in 2025. Across the EU, prices for goods and services consumed in agriculture remained relatively stable. Non-investment inputs such as energy, fertilisers and feedingstuffs showed limited overall changes during the quarter.

Country-Specific Divergence In Price Movements

Eurostat data highlights considerable variation across member states. Fifteen EU countries recorded declines in agricultural output prices. Belgium registered the largest decrease at 12.9%, followed by Lithuania (8.2%) and Germany (6.0%). At the same time, twelve countries reported increases in output prices. Ireland recorded the strongest rise at 6.8%, followed by Slovenia (5.6%) and Malta (4.2%).

Stability In Agricultural Inputs Amid Commodity Shifts

Agricultural input prices also showed mixed developments. Eleven member states recorded declines, including Cyprus (2.6%), Belgium (2.1%) and Sweden (2.0%). Other countries experienced moderate increases, including Lithuania (4.2%), Ireland (3.3%) and Romania (2.5%). Among major agricultural commodities, milk prices declined by 4.1% while cereal prices fell by 8.9% across the EU. In contrast, fertilisers and soil improvers increased by 7.9%, reflecting continued volatility in input markets.

Outlook For EU Agriculture

The latest Eurostat data points to uneven price developments across the EU agricultural sector. While input prices remained broadly stable in many markets, movements in output prices varied significantly between member states. These trends highlight the need for farmers and policymakers to adapt to shifting commodity prices and changing cost structures across the European agricultural market.

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