A billionaire was once forced to rename his superyacht after coming to the horrifying realization of what it spells out when placed in front of a mirror.

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison had just christened his new German-built yacht Izanami, blissfully unaware that reversing the name produces the phrase “I’m a Nazi.”

The 81-year-old reportedly selected the name from Japanese mythology, after the Shinto goddess associated with both creation and death.

Ellison, who has close family connections to Israel, reportedly learned of the offensive backward spelling and rushed to grab the paint thinner and rename the vessel.

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Ellison has not owned the 58 m Lürssen superyacht now named Ronin for a while after selling it to Venezuelan banker Víctor Vargas some time before 2013.

Larry Ellison's yacht "Ronin" in Newport, Rhode Island.
Ellison, who has close family connections to Israel, reportedly learned of the offensive backward spelling and rushed to grab the paint thinner and rename the vessel.ullstein bild via Getty Images

But the revelation has become public all over again thanks to social media, with online onlookers pouncing, and the memes immediately began flowing.

“That is such a classic billionaire blunder that it almost feels scripted by Jesse Armstrong himself. It is the perfect intersection of high-end pretension and a total lack of basic proofreading,” one wrote.

“This is straight out of Succession,” another wrote.

A third commented: “This sounds like something out of Arrested Development.”

Larry Ellison speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump at the White House on Jan. 21, 2025.
Larry Ellison speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump at the White House on Jan. 21, 2025.Getty Images
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison had just christened his new German-built yacht Izanami, blissfully unaware that reversing the name produces the phrase “I’m a Nazi.”
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison had just christened his new German-built yacht Izanami, blissfully unaware that reversing the name produces the phrase “I’m a Nazi.”ullstein bild via Getty Images

Ellison reportedly sold the yacht after renaming it “Ronin”. It is now owned by Italian business executive and pharmaceutical industry leader Alessandro Del Bono.

Ellison briefly became the world’s richest individual in September after his net worth surged by $101 billion to $393 billion.

He co-founded Oracle in 1977 after leaving college and remains the company’s largest individual shareholder.

He has faced heavy scrutiny over corporate governance in the past, with shareholders accusing him of wielding excessive control over the company, particularly in acquisitions involving companies where he held personal stakes.

Privacy advocates have meanwhile criticised Ellison for his views on data and surveillance.

Ellison reportedly sold the yacht after renaming it “Ronin”. It is now owned by Italian business executive and pharmaceutical industry leader Alessandro Del Bono.
Ellison reportedly sold the yacht after renaming it “Ronin”. It is now owned by Italian business executive and pharmaceutical industry leader Alessandro Del Bono.ullstein bild via Getty Images

After the September 11 attacks, he famously supported the idea of a national identification database, raising alarms about civil liberties.

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More recently, his comments suggesting that artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance could improve societal behavior have fuelled concerns about authoritarian uses of technology.

Politically, Ellison’s support for conservative causes and close relationships with controversial leaders have further divided opinion. Critics argue that his wealth allows disproportionate influence over public policy, while supporters see him as a defender of national security and technological leadership.