A billionaire once found himself forced to rename his superyacht after making a shocking discovery about its name when viewed in a mirror.
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison had originally christened his German-built yacht Izanami, unaware that the name, when reversed, spelled out the offensive phrase “I’m a Nazi.”
Now 81, Ellison reportedly chose the name from Japanese mythology, referencing the Shinto goddess associated with both creation and death. However, after learning of the unintended and deeply troubling backward meaning—and given his close family ties to Israel—he is said to have moved quickly to have the yacht repainted and renamed.
The 58-meter Lürssen superyacht was ultimately rechristened Ronin. Ellison no longer owns the vessel, having sold it to Venezuelan banker Víctor Vargas sometime before 2013.
Ellison, who has close family ties to Israel, reportedly became aware of the offensive backward spelling and hurried to strip the paint and rename the yacht.
Years later, the story has resurfaced online, reignited by social media, where users quickly seized on the revelation and memes spread rapidly.
“That is such a classic billionaire blunder it almost feels like it was scripted by Jesse Armstrong,” one user wrote. “It’s the perfect collision of elite pretension and a complete lack of basic proofreading.”
“This is straight out of Succession,” another added.
A third commenter joked: “This sounds like an episode of Arrested Development.”
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison originally christened his German-built yacht Izanami, unaware that reversing the name spelled the offensive phrase “I’m a Nazi.”
After renaming the vessel Ronin, Ellison reportedly sold the yacht. It is now owned by Italian business executive and pharmaceutical industry leader Alessandro Del Bono.
In September, Ellison briefly became the world’s richest person after his net worth surged by $101 billion to an estimated $393 billion.
Ellison co-founded Oracle in 1977 after leaving college and remains the company’s largest individual shareholder. Over the years, he has faced scrutiny over corporate governance, with shareholders accusing him of exercising excessive control—particularly in acquisitions involving companies in which he held personal stakes.
He has also drawn criticism from privacy advocates for his views on data collection and surveillance.
Here’s a refined rewrite with smoother transitions and a balanced, news-style tone:
Ellison reportedly sold the yacht after renaming it Ronin. The vessel is now owned by Italian business executive and pharmaceutical industry leader Alessandro Del Bono.
Following the September 11 attacks, Ellison famously backed the idea of a national identification database, a position that raised concerns among civil liberties advocates.
More recently, his remarks suggesting that artificial intelligence–driven surveillance could help improve societal behavior have reignited fears about the authoritarian use of technology.
Politically, Ellison’s support for conservative causes and his close ties to controversial leaders have further divided opinion. Critics argue that his immense wealth gives him outsized influence over public policy, while supporters view him as a proponent of national security and technological leadership.
