Safra Catz and John Stankey represent two different paths to leadership in major American technology companies.
Catz spent more than two decades helping Oracle expand from enterprise software into cloud infrastructure and AI, while Stankey built a four-decade career inside AT&T across technology, operations, strategy, media, and telecommunications.
This article examines their biographies, career milestones, compensation, leadership roles, and the major business changes shaping Oracle and AT&T in 2026.
Quick Bio Table
| Detail | Safra Catz | John Stankey |
| Full Name | Safra Ada Catz | John T. Stankey |
| Age in 2026 | 64 | 63–64 |
| Birthplace | Holon, Israel | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Profession | Technology executive, former Oracle CEO | Telecommunications executive, AT&T Chairman and CEO |
| Current Role | Executive Vice Chair, Oracle Board | Chairman, CEO and President, AT&T |
| Height | Not publicly disclosed by reliable sources | Not publicly disclosed by reliable sources |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed by reliable sources | Not publicly disclosed by reliable sources |
| Net Worth | About $2.9 billion, according to Forbes’ 2026 estimate | About $38 million, according to MarketScreener’s 2026 estimate |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania, B.A. and J.D. | Loyola Marymount University, B.B.A.; UCLA, M.B.A. |
Forbes reported an estimated $2.9 billion net worth for Safra Catz in September 2026. MarketScreener listed John Stankey’s estimated net worth at about $38 million in August 2026. These figures are estimates rather than audited personal balance sheets and can change with stock prices and other assets.
Who Is Safra Catz?
Safra Catz is an Israeli-born American business executive who became one of the most recognizable financial and strategic leaders in the enterprise technology industry. Born in Holon, Israel, in December 1961, she moved to the United States as a child and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Before joining Oracle, she spent more than a decade in investment banking, including senior roles at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.
Catz joined Oracle in 1999 and steadily moved through senior leadership. She became president in 2004 and held major financial responsibilities before becoming CFO and co-president. In 2014, she became one of Oracle’s two CEOs alongside Mark Hurd. After Hurd’s departure in 2019, Catz became Oracle’s sole CEO. Her career is closely associated with Oracle’s acquisitions, financial discipline, cloud transition, and expansion into large-scale infrastructure and enterprise services.
How Safra Catz Built Her Career at Oracle
Catz’s influence at Oracle developed through a combination of finance, deal-making, operations, and executive management. Forbes credits her with helping Oracle complete more than 130 acquisitions during her career. Major transactions, including Oracle’s $10.3 billion PeopleSoft acquisition, helped expand the company’s enterprise software portfolio. Her investment-banking background also gave her experience evaluating businesses, negotiating transactions, and integrating acquired operations.
Her CEO period also coincided with Oracle’s shift toward cloud infrastructure, databases, enterprise applications, and AI-related computing. Oracle’s 2025 proxy said that Catz, as CEO and principal financial officer, oversaw the company’s long-term strategy, operations, culture, and financial performance, while the company transformed from a major licensed-software supplier into a major cloud infrastructure and full-stack applications provider.
Catz’s compensation illustrates how executive earnings can differ from a conventional salary. Oracle reported a $950,000 base salary for her in fiscal 2025, while her target performance-based cash bonus was $5 million. However, Oracle’s compensation committee approved no annual cash bonus for its senior executives that year as the company prioritized capital for strategic projects. Her wealth is therefore more closely connected to equity ownership and long-term compensation than salary alone.
Who Is John Stankey?
John Stankey is an American telecommunications executive who serves as chairman, CEO, and president of AT&T. Unlike Catz, whose career moved from investment banking into technology, Stankey spent essentially his entire executive career within the AT&T organization. He joined the company in 1985 and eventually held leadership positions covering information technology, network operations, business services, strategy, entertainment, and media.
Stankey earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Loyola Marymount University and an MBA from UCLA. His career included roles as AT&T’s chief information officer and chief technology officer, president of AT&T Operations, chief strategy officer, CEO of AT&T Entertainment Group, and CEO of WarnerMedia. He became AT&T CEO and president in July 2020 and was elected chairman of the board in February 2025.
His compensation is substantially different from his reported personal net worth. AT&T’s 2026 proxy reported $2.4 million in base salary for 2025 and total reported compensation of $29.91 million, including stock awards, incentive compensation, and other compensation. The company also disclosed a 2025 target compensation package totaling $27.5 million. These figures describe executive compensation, not annual personal income after taxes or changes in wealth.
John Stankey’s Climb Through AT&T
Stankey’s AT&T career is notable for its breadth. The company’s 2026 proxy lists his progression through roles including chief information officer from 2003 to 2004, chief technology officer from 2004 to 2006, group president of telecom operations, CEO of AT&T Operations, president and CEO of AT&T Business Solutions, chief strategy officer, CEO of AT&T Entertainment Group, and CEO of WarnerMedia. That history gave him exposure to both the technical and commercial sides of the company.
The WarnerMedia period was particularly important because AT&T was operating a large telecommunications and media business at the same time. Stankey served as CEO of WarnerMedia from 2018 into 2020 before taking over AT&T’s top executive role. Under his tenure at AT&T, the company ultimately completed the separation of WarnerMedia in 2022, creating Warner Bros. Discovery and allowing AT&T to focus more directly on connectivity.
That restructuring changed the shape of AT&T. When the WarnerMedia transaction closed in April 2022, AT&T received $40.4 billion in cash and its shareholders received Warner Bros. Discovery shares. AT&T subsequently emphasized wireless, fiber, network investment, debt reduction, and capital returns. The shift remains central to understanding Stankey’s role at the company in 2026.
What Stankey Changed Inside AT&T
One of the biggest changes under Stankey has been AT&T’s increased focus on converged connectivity, particularly the combination of 5G wireless and fiber broadband. AT&T reported more than $125 billion in 2025 revenue and said it invested more than $150 billion in wireless and wireline networks between 2021 and 2025, including spectrum-related investments and acquisitions. The company’s 2026 strategy continues to emphasize network expansion rather than a broad media portfolio.
AT&T also expanded its fiber footprint through its agreement to acquire substantially all of Lumen’s Mass Markets fiber business for $5.75 billion. The transaction covered about 1 million fiber customers and more than 4 million fiber locations across 11 states. AT&T said the broader plan was to reach more than 60 million total fiber locations by the end of 2030.
Wireless infrastructure has also become a major part of the strategy. In July 2026, AT&T completed its approximately $23 billion acquisition of wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar. The transaction added about 30 MHz of nationwide 3.45 GHz mid-band spectrum and about 20 MHz of nationwide 600 MHz low-band spectrum. AT&T said the additional spectrum would increase 5G capacity and support faster connections across markets in the United States.
Safra Catz and John Stankey: A Side-by-Side Look
Safra Catz and John Stankey have different professional backgrounds but both built long careers managing complex corporations. Catz entered Oracle after investment banking and became closely associated with acquisitions, financial management, cloud transformation, and enterprise technology. Stankey developed through AT&T’s internal leadership structure, moving across technical, operational, strategic, media, and executive roles before becoming CEO. Their career paths show two distinct routes to the top of large American companies.
| Career Area | Safra Catz | John Stankey |
| Company | Oracle | AT&T |
| Joined Company | 1999 | 1985 |
| CEO Period | 2014–2025 | 2020–present |
| 2026 Role | Executive Vice Chair | Chairman and CEO |
| Core Expertise | Finance, acquisitions, cloud and enterprise technology | Telecom, networks, operations, strategy and media |
| Major Strategic Theme | Cloud, AI infrastructure and enterprise software | 5G, fiber and advanced connectivity |
| Education | Penn/Wharton and Penn Law | Loyola Marymount and UCLA |
| Leadership Style in Career Record | Finance-led technology transformation | Long-term operational and telecom leadership |
The companies they helped lead also face different competitive environments. Oracle operates in enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, databases, and AI computing. AT&T competes in wireless, fiber broadband, business connectivity, and related communications services. As a result, their leadership records are best understood within the different markets, capital needs, and technology cycles of Oracle and AT&T.
Where Each Leader Stands in 2026
In 2026, Catz is no longer Oracle’s chief executive. Oracle announced on September 22, 2025, that Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia would become co-CEOs, while Catz moved into the role of executive vice chair of Oracle’s board. Oracle said the succession was intended to move leadership to the next generation while allowing Catz and Larry Ellison to continue helping guide the company’s direction.
Her 2026 position still places her close to Oracle’s corporate governance and long-term strategy. Oracle’s board lists Catz as executive vice chair, alongside executive chairman and CTO Larry Ellison and co-CEOs Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia. Her outside roles also include academic and board responsibilities, including work connected with Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Oracle Education Foundation.
Stankey, meanwhile, remains directly responsible for AT&T’s day-to-day corporate leadership. He became chairman in 2025 while continuing as CEO and president. In 2026, AT&T’s strategy centers on expanding fiber and 5G, integrating new spectrum, increasing network capacity, and building a larger converged customer base. AT&T’s 2026 outlook called for annual service-revenue growth in the low-single-digit range and continued investment of roughly $23 billion to $24 billion annually through 2028.
The contrast is important for readers searching for Safra Catz and John Stankey in 2026. Catz is now serving in a board-level strategic role after an 11-year CEO period, while Stankey remains the operating chief of AT&T. Their current responsibilities therefore differ, even though both remain influential figures in major U.S. technology and communications businesses.
FAQs
Who is Safra Catz in 2026?
Safra Catz is Oracle’s executive vice chair and former CEO. She served as Oracle CEO from 2014 until September 2025, when Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia became co-CEOs.
What is Safra Catz’s net worth in 2026?
Forbes estimated Safra Catz’s net worth at approximately $2.9 billion in 2026. Her wealth is primarily associated with her long career, equity holdings, and executive compensation rather than salary alone.
Who is John Stankey and what does he do?
John Stankey is AT&T’s chairman, CEO, and president. He has worked within the AT&T organization since 1985 and has held leadership roles in technology, operations, strategy, media, and telecommunications.
What did John Stankey change at AT&T?
Under Stankey, AT&T has focused more heavily on wireless and fiber connectivity following the 2022 WarnerMedia separation. Recent strategy has included major investments in fiber expansion and wireless spectrum.
Are Safra Catz and John Stankey the CEOs of Oracle and AT&T in 2026?
No. In 2026, Stankey remains AT&T’s chairman and CEO. Catz is Oracle’s executive vice chair, while Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia serve as Oracle’s co-CEOs.
Final Thoughts
Safra Catz and John Stankey reached senior leadership through very different routes, yet both have played major roles in reshaping large U.S. technology companies.
Catz built her reputation through finance, acquisitions, enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, and Oracle’s transformation into an important cloud and AI company.
