Michael Dell: Difference between revisions

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| occupation  = Businessman, investor, philanthropist
| occupation  = Businessman, investor, philanthropist
| known_for    = Founder, chairman, and CEO of [[Dell Technologies]]
| known_for    = Founder, chairman, and CEO of [[Dell Technologies]]
| education    = [[University of Texas at Austin]] (dropped out)
| education    = [[University of Texas at Austin]] (attended)
| children    = 4
| children    = 4
| awards      = [[Franklin Institute Awards|Bower Award for Business Leadership]]
| awards      = [[Benjamin Franklin Medal]] (Franklin Institute)
| website      = {{URL|dell.com}}
}}
}}


'''Michael Saul Dell''' (born February 23, 1965) is an American billionaire businessman, investor, and philanthropist who founded [[Dell Technologies]], one of the world's largest technology infrastructure companies. From a freshman dormitory room at the [[University of Texas at Austin]] in 1984, Dell launched a direct-to-consumer personal computer business that would reshape how technology hardware was manufactured, sold, and distributed globally. As the company's chairman and chief executive officer, he has guided it through multiple transformations — from a pioneering direct-sales PC company to a publicly traded corporation, through a landmark management buyout that took the firm private, and back to the public markets again. In December 2025, Dell and his wife Susan announced a $6.25 billion philanthropic commitment to fund investment accounts for millions of American children, one of the largest individual charitable pledges in history.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-12-02 |title=Michael and Susan Dell to donate $6.25 billion to fund 'Trump accounts' for 25 million U.S. kids |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/michael-susan-dell-trump-accounts.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Dell has served as the company's CEO for most of its existence and continues to lead its strategic direction, including major investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and data storage.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-01 |title=Michael Dell On Biggest 2026 Investments In Storage, AI And Partners |url=https://www.crn.com/news/computing/2026/michael-dell-on-biggest-2026-investments-in-storage-ai-and-partners |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
'''Michael Saul Dell''' (born February 23, 1965) is an American billionaire businessman, investor, and philanthropist who founded [[Dell Technologies]], one of the world's largest technology infrastructure companies. From a dormitory room at the [[University of Texas at Austin]] in 1984, Dell launched a personal computer business built on the then-novel concept of selling custom-built computers directly to consumers, bypassing traditional retail channels. That company grew into a multinational corporation that has shaped the global technology landscape for four decades. Dell serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies, a role he has held for most of the company's history. In 2013, he led a landmark $24.4 billion management buyout to take Dell Inc. private — the largest such transaction since the [[Great Recession]] — before returning the company to public markets in December 2018.<ref name="forbes2013">{{cite web |last=Guglielmo |first=Connie |date=2013-10-30 |title=You Won't Have Michael Dell To Kick Around Anymore |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2013/10/30/you-wont-have-michael-dell-to-kick-around-anymore/#7a52b1224fd2 |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Beyond his corporate leadership, Dell has become a significant philanthropist; in December 2025, he and his wife Susan pledged $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for millions of American children through a program called Invest America.<ref name="cnbc2025">{{cite news |date=2025-12-02 |title=Michael and Susan Dell to donate $6.25 billion to fund 'Trump accounts' for 25 million U.S. kids |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/michael-susan-dell-trump-accounts.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Michael Saul Dell was born on February 23, 1965, in [[Houston]], [[Texas]].<ref name="dell-bio">{{cite web |title=Michael Dell Biography |url=http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/bios/michael_dell?c=us&l=en&s=corp&cs=uscorp1 |publisher=Dell Inc. |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He grew up in the Houston area, where he showed an early aptitude for business and technology. In a personal essay published in December 2025, Dell recalled that when he was six or seven years old, he opened a passbook savings account with just a few dollars, regularly bringing quarters to the local Savings & Loan — an experience he later cited as formative in shaping his understanding of saving and investing.<ref name="dell-essay">{{cite news |last=Dell |first=Michael |date=2025-12-02 |title=Michael Dell: Why I'm Giving $6 Billion to America's Kids |url=https://www.thefp.com/p/michael-dell-why-im-giving-6-billion |work=The Free Press |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Michael Saul Dell was born on February 23, 1965, in [[Houston]], [[Texas]].<ref name="franklin">{{cite web |title=Michael S. Dell |url=https://www.fi.edu/laureates/michael-s-dell |publisher=The Franklin Institute |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He grew up in a middle-class household in Houston. His father was an orthodontist, and his mother was a stockbroker, exposing him from an early age to both professional ambition and financial markets.<ref name="inc1990">{{cite web |date=1990-01-01 |title=Michael Dell |url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/19900101/4986.html#dell |publisher=Inc. Magazine |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


As a teenager, Dell demonstrated a precocious interest in computers and entrepreneurship. He acquired his first computer at age 15, an [[Apple II]], which he promptly took apart to understand how it worked. He also showed a knack for identifying market inefficiencies and exploiting them for profit. Before attending college, Dell had already demonstrated a capacity for direct selling and marketing that would later define his business model.
Dell demonstrated entrepreneurial instincts at a young age. As he later recounted, he opened a passbook savings account when he was six or seven years old, regularly bringing quarters to the local Savings & Loan.<ref name="freepress2025">{{cite web |last=Dell |first=Michael |date=2025-12-02 |title=Michael Dell: Why I'm Giving $6 Billion to America's Kids |url=https://www.thefp.com/p/michael-dell-why-im-giving-6-billion |publisher=The Free Press |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> This early experience with saving and investing left a lasting impression on him and would later inform both his business philosophy and his philanthropic endeavors.


Dell's early exposure to both technology and commerce set the stage for what would become one of the most consequential careers in the personal computer industry. His childhood in Houston, a city defined by its energy industry and entrepreneurial culture, provided a backdrop that encouraged independent thinking and risk-taking.
As a teenager, Dell showed a keen interest in computers and business. He reportedly earned money through various ventures, including selling newspaper subscriptions, and he purchased his first computer at age 15. He quickly began taking the machine apart to understand how it worked, an experience that planted the seeds for what would become his life's work. His fascination was not merely technical but commercial — he was interested in how computers were sold and how the process could be made more efficient.<ref name="inc1990" />
 
Dell attended Memorial High School in Houston. By the time he graduated, he had already developed a clear sense that the personal computer industry offered enormous business opportunities, particularly if the traditional distribution model — which relied on retail intermediaries — could be restructured to connect manufacturers more directly with end users.<ref name="inc1990" />


== Education ==
== Education ==


Dell enrolled at the [[University of Texas at Austin]] in 1983, ostensibly to pursue a pre-medical degree. However, his interest in computers and business quickly overshadowed his academic studies. While living in the Dobie Center, a high-rise dormitory near campus, Dell began upgrading and selling personal computers directly to consumers from his dorm room.<ref>{{cite web |title=UT's famed high-rise dorm where Dell launched to get makeover |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/04/uts-famed-high-rise-dorm-where-dell-launched-to.html |publisher=Austin Business Journal |date=2014-04 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The business grew so rapidly that Dell dropped out of the university after his freshman year to devote himself to it full-time.
In 1983, Michael Dell enrolled at the [[University of Texas at Austin]] as a pre-medical student, following the wishes of his parents, who hoped he would become a physician.<ref name="dormlaunch">{{cite web |date=2014-04 |title=UT's Famed High-Rise Dorm Where Dell Launched to Close |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/04/uts-famed-high-rise-dorm-where-dell-launched-to.html |publisher=Austin Business Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> However, his attention was firmly fixed on the burgeoning personal computer market. Operating from his dormitory room in the Dobie Center, a high-rise residence hall near campus, Dell began upgrading and selling personal computers to fellow students and local businesses.<ref name="dormlaunch" />


Despite not completing his undergraduate degree, Dell has maintained a relationship with the University of Texas. In May 2003, he delivered the commencement address at the university, reflecting on his unconventional path from dropout to technology executive.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Dell Commencement Speech, May 17, 2003 |url=http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf |publisher=Dell Inc. |date=2003-05-17 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
The dorm-room business grew rapidly. Dell found that by purchasing excess inventory from retailers, upgrading the machines with additional memory and disk drives, and selling them directly to consumers at competitive prices, he could generate significant revenue. The enterprise proved so successful that Dell decided to leave the University of Texas after his freshman year to pursue the business full-time.<ref name="inc1990" /> He did not complete his degree, though he would later return to the university to deliver a commencement address in 2003.<ref name="commencement">{{cite web |title=Commencement Address by Michael Dell |url=http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf |publisher=Dell Inc. |date=2003-05-17 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
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=== Founding of Dell Computer Corporation ===
=== Founding of Dell Computer Corporation ===


In 1984, at the age of 19, Michael Dell founded '''PC's Limited''' with $1,000 in start-up capital. Operating initially from his University of Texas dormitory room, he began by purchasing excess inventory stock from IBM dealers, adding features such as additional memory and disk drives, and then selling the upgraded machines directly to consumers at below-retail prices. This direct-to-consumer model eliminated the retail middleman and allowed Dell to offer customized computers at competitive prices — a revolutionary concept in the personal computer industry at the time.<ref name="inc-1990">{{cite news |date=1990-01-01 |title=The Entrepreneur of the Decade |url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/19900101/4986.html#dell |work=Inc. |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In 1984, at the age of 19, Michael Dell founded '''PCs Limited''' with $1,000 in start-up capital. The company was based in Austin, Texas, and operated on what became known as the "direct model" — selling personal computers built to order directly to customers, eliminating the retail middleman and the associated markup.<ref name="inc1990" /> This approach allowed the company to offer lower prices while maintaining higher margins and to customize machines to individual customer specifications.
 
The business, later renamed '''Dell Computer Corporation''', grew at a remarkable pace. Dell's model of building computers to order, rather than maintaining large inventories of pre-configured machines, gave the company significant advantages in cost management and customer satisfaction. Customers could specify the exact configuration they wanted, and Dell would assemble and ship the machine directly, bypassing traditional retail channels entirely.
 
By the late 1980s, Dell Computer Corporation had become one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States. The company conducted its [[initial public offering]] in 1988, raising $30 million. Dell, still in his early twenties, became one of the youngest CEOs of a company listed on the [[Fortune 500]].


=== Growth and Market Dominance ===
The direct sales model also provided Dell with a significant advantage in inventory management. Because computers were assembled only after an order was placed, the company did not need to maintain large inventories of finished products, reducing costs and the risk of obsolescence in a market where technology evolved rapidly.<ref name="inc1990" />


Throughout the 1990s, Dell Computer Corporation expanded aggressively, leveraging its direct-sales model and efficient supply chain to capture increasing market share in the personal computer industry. The company was among the first to sell computers directly over the Internet, launching its online sales platform in 1996. This move further reduced costs and allowed Dell to reach a broader customer base.
The company was incorporated in 1987 as '''Dell Computer Corporation'''. Growth was swift. By 1990, revenues had reached hundreds of millions of dollars, and the company was expanding into international markets. Dell went public with an initial public offering in 1988, raising $30 million and giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $85 million.<ref name="inc1990" />


Dell's build-to-order manufacturing system became a case study in supply chain management and operational efficiency. By minimizing inventory and maintaining close relationships with component suppliers, the company was able to respond quickly to changes in component prices and customer demand. This system, combined with the direct-sales model, allowed Dell to consistently undercut competitors on price while maintaining healthy profit margins.
=== Rise to Industry Leadership ===


In June 2000, Dell delivered an address at the [[National Press Club]] in Washington, D.C., where he discussed the company's growth trajectory and the future of the technology industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Dell at National Press Club, June 8, 2000 |url=https://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2000/000608.mdell.html |publisher=NPR |date=2000-06-08 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Throughout the 1990s, Dell Computer Corporation grew to become one of the largest personal computer manufacturers in the world. The company's direct model, combined with an early embrace of internet-based sales, allowed it to scale efficiently. Dell became known for lean manufacturing, just-in-time production, and a relentless focus on supply chain optimization.


By the early 2000s, Dell Computer Corporation had become the world's largest seller of personal computers, surpassing rivals such as [[Compaq]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], and [[IBM]]. The company's market capitalization soared, and Michael Dell's personal wealth grew correspondingly.
Michael Dell served as CEO during this period of rapid expansion. In a speech at the [[National Press Club]] in 2000, he discussed the company's strategy and the role of technology in the broader economy.<ref name="npc2000">{{cite web |title=Michael Dell at the National Press Club |url=https://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2000/000608.mdell.html |publisher=NPR |date=2000-06-08 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> By this time, Dell had become one of the most prominent figures in the American technology industry and one of the youngest chief executives to lead a Fortune 500 company.


=== Stepping Down and Returning as CEO ===
=== Transition and Return as CEO ===


In March 2004, Dell stepped down as CEO of Dell Computer Corporation, handing the role to [[Kevin Rollins]], who had been serving as president and chief operating officer. Dell remained as chairman of the board.<ref>{{cite news |date=2004-03-04 |title=Dell doffs CEO role |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-03-04-dell-doffs-ceo-role_x.htm |work=USA Today |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The company was renamed Dell Inc. during this period.
In 2004, Michael Dell stepped down as CEO of Dell Inc., handing the role to Kevin Rollins, though Dell retained his position as chairman of the board.<ref name="usatoday2004">{{cite news |date=2004-03-04 |title=Dell Doffs CEO Role |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-03-04-dell-doffs-ceo-role_x.htm |work=USA Today |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The transition came at a time when Dell Inc. was the world's leading PC manufacturer, but the company would soon face intensifying competition.


However, the company soon faced significant challenges. Market share declined, customer service quality deteriorated, and Dell Inc. lost its position as the world's largest PC maker. In January 2007, the company's board asked Michael Dell to return as CEO, replacing Rollins.<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-02-01 |title=Dell's Founder Returns as Chief Executive |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/technology/01dell.html?ex=1327986000&en=51d4bc242b1c6e8f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Dell's return was accompanied by a restructuring effort aimed at diversifying the company beyond its core PC business and improving operational performance.
By early 2007, Dell Inc. was confronting a series of challenges, including declining market share, an accounting investigation by the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]], and growing competition from rivals such as [[Hewlett-Packard]] and [[Lenovo]]. In January 2007, Michael Dell returned as CEO, replacing Rollins, in an effort to revitalize the company.<ref name="nytimes2007">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2007-02-01 |title=Dell's Founder Returns as Chief Executive |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/technology/01dell.html?ex=1327986000&en=51d4bc242b1c6e8f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="bwreturn">{{cite web |title=Dell CEO Kevin Rollins Steps Down |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213162103/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2007/tc20070131_658871.htm?campaign_id=msnbc_dell |publisher=BusinessWeek |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


A report from ''[[BusinessWeek]]'' noted the challenges Dell faced upon his return, including increased competition from HP and the rise of consumer electronics that threatened the traditional PC market.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dell's Challenges |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213162103/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2007/tc20070131_658871.htm?campaign_id=msnbc_dell |publisher=BusinessWeek |date=2007-01-31 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
His return was accompanied by a strategic shift. Dell began diversifying beyond its core PC business into enterprise computing, services, and software. The company made a series of acquisitions to bolster its capabilities in these areas.


=== SEC Investigation and Settlement ===
In 2010, the SEC concluded its investigation into Dell Inc.'s accounting practices. The agency found that the company had failed to disclose material information to investors regarding certain payments from [[Intel Corporation]] and had engaged in accounting manipulations. Dell Inc. and Michael Dell personally agreed to pay penalties to settle the charges, without admitting or denying the findings. Michael Dell paid a $4 million penalty, and the company paid $100 million.<ref name="sec2010">{{cite web |title=SEC Charges Dell Inc. with Disclosure and Accounting Fraud |url=https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2010/lr21599.htm |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |date=2010 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
 
In 2010, Dell Inc. and Michael Dell personally reached a settlement with the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) regarding charges of disclosure and accounting fraud. The SEC alleged that between 2003 and 2006, Dell Inc. had failed to disclose material information to investors about exclusive payments received from [[Intel Corporation]] in exchange for not using [[Advanced Micro Devices|AMD]] processors. The SEC also alleged that the company had manipulated its accounting to meet quarterly earnings targets. Michael Dell personally paid a $4 million civil penalty as part of the settlement, without admitting or denying the charges. Dell Inc. paid a $100 million penalty.<ref>{{cite web |title=SEC Litigation Release No. 21599 |url=https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2010/lr21599.htm |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |date=2010 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== Management Buyout and Going Private ===
=== Management Buyout and Going Private ===


By the early 2010s, Dell Inc. faced a rapidly changing technology landscape. The personal computer market was declining as consumers shifted toward smartphones and tablets. The company's stock price had fallen significantly from its peak, and analysts questioned whether Dell Inc. could successfully transition to an enterprise-focused technology company while remaining publicly traded.
In January 2013, Michael Dell announced a plan to take Dell Inc. private in a leveraged buyout valued at approximately $24.4 billion. The deal, conducted in partnership with the private equity firm [[Silver Lake Partners]], represented the largest management buyout since the Great Recession.<ref name="forbes2013" /> Dell argued that taking the company private would allow it to undergo a long-term transformation away from the commoditized PC market without the pressure of quarterly earnings reports and public market scrutiny.
 
In January 2013, Michael Dell announced a bid to take Dell Inc. private in a [[leveraged buyout]] valued at $24.4 billion — the largest management buyout since the [[Great Recession]]. The deal, conducted in partnership with the private equity firm [[Silver Lake Partners]], was contentious. Activist investor [[Carl Icahn]] and other shareholders challenged the buyout price as too low, leading to a protracted and public battle for control of the company.<ref name="forbes-private">{{cite news |last=Guglielmo |first=Connie |date=2013-10-30 |title=You Won't Have Michael Dell To Kick Around Anymore |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2013/10/30/you-wont-have-michael-dell-to-kick-around-anymore/#7a52b1224fd2 |work=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
 
After months of negotiations, shareholder votes, and legal proceedings, Dell Inc. officially went private in October 2013.<ref name="forbes-private" /> Taking the company private gave Michael Dell the freedom to pursue long-term strategic investments without the pressure of quarterly earnings expectations from public market investors.
 
=== Acquisition of EMC Corporation ===


In October 2015, Dell announced the acquisition of [[EMC Corporation]], a leading data storage company, in a deal valued at approximately $67 billion — the largest technology acquisition in history at that time.<ref>{{cite news |date=2015-10-12 |title=Dell to Acquire EMC for $67 Billion to Add Data-Storage Devices |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-12/dell-to-acquire-emc-for-67-billion-to-add-data-storage-devices |work=Bloomberg |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The acquisition included EMC's majority stake in [[VMware]], a leading virtualization and cloud computing software company.
The buyout was contested by several major shareholders, including [[Carl Icahn]], who argued that the offer undervalued the company. After a protracted proxy battle and a shareholder vote, the deal was approved in September 2013. Dell Inc. officially became a private company in October 2013.<ref name="forbes2013" />


The merger was completed in September 2016, and the combined entity was renamed '''Dell Technologies'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historic Dell-EMC Merger Complete, Forms World's Largest Privately-Controlled Tech Company |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160907005946/en/Historic-Dell-EMC-Merger-Complete-Forms-World%E2%80%99s |publisher=Business Wire |date=2016-09-07 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The deal transformed Dell from primarily a personal computer manufacturer into a comprehensive technology infrastructure company offering servers, storage, networking, cloud computing, and cybersecurity solutions.
During the private period, Dell accelerated the company's transformation into an enterprise technology provider. The most significant move came in October 2015, when Dell announced an agreement to acquire [[EMC Corporation]] for approximately $67 billion, the largest technology acquisition in history at that time.<ref name="bloomberg2015">{{cite news |date=2015-10-12 |title=Dell to Acquire EMC for $67 Billion to Add Data Storage Devices |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-12/dell-to-acquire-emc-for-67-billion-to-add-data-storage-devices |work=Bloomberg News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The deal was finalized in September 2016, creating '''Dell Technologies''', a combined entity that encompassed Dell's PC and server business, EMC's storage products, and VMware's virtualization software, among other assets.<ref name="merger2016">{{cite web |date=2016-09-07 |title=Historic Dell-EMC Merger Complete, Forms World's Largest Privately-Controlled Technology Company |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160907005946/en/Historic-Dell-EMC-Merger-Complete-Forms-World%E2%80%99s |publisher=Business Wire |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== Return to Public Markets ===
=== Return to Public Markets ===


In December 2018, Dell Technologies returned to the public stock markets through a complex financial transaction involving a buyout of tracking stock linked to VMware. The move allowed Dell Technologies to become publicly traded once again without a traditional initial public offering, completing a five-year cycle from public to private and back to public.
In December 2018, Dell Technologies returned to the public stock market through a complex transaction involving a tracking stock tied to VMware. The move allowed the company to reduce its substantial debt load incurred from the EMC acquisition while giving Dell Technologies access to public equity markets once again.<ref name="bbc2015">{{cite news |date=2015-10-15 |title=Dell to buy data storage firm EMC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34505553 |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
 
=== Focus on AI and Emerging Technologies ===


Under Dell's continued leadership, Dell Technologies has invested significantly in artificial intelligence infrastructure, data storage, and cloud computing. In early 2026, Dell outlined the company's major investment priorities, which included storage technology, AI-enabled personal computers, server shipments, the "Dell AI Factory" initiative, and expanded channel partner programs.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-01 |title=Michael Dell On Biggest 2026 Investments In Storage, AI And Partners |url=https://www.crn.com/news/computing/2026/michael-dell-on-biggest-2026-investments-in-storage-ai-and-partners |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Under Dell's continued leadership, Dell Technologies grew into one of the world's largest technology companies, with operations spanning personal computers, servers, data storage, networking, and cybersecurity. The company is consistently ranked among the top companies on the [[Fortune 500]] list.


Dell has described artificial intelligence as representing a breakthrough moment for the technology industry. In a January 2026 interview with the WSJ Leadership Institute, he discussed the company's positioning in AI infrastructure and his outlook for the technology's transformative potential.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-01 |title=Michael Dell on Invest America, His $6.25 Billion Bet on Investing for Children, and AI's Breakthrough Year |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/video/michael-dell-invest-america-6-201600127.html |work=Yahoo Finance |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== Focus on AI and Strategic Investments ===


=== Investment Activities ===
In the mid-2020s, Dell Technologies positioned itself at the center of the growing market for [[artificial intelligence]] infrastructure. In early 2026, Michael Dell outlined the company's major investment priorities for the year, emphasizing storage, AI-capable personal computers, server shipments, what the company branded the "Dell AI Factory," and its channel partner ecosystem.<ref name="crn2026">{{cite news |date=2026-01 |title=Michael Dell On Biggest 2026 Investments In Storage, AI And Partners |url=https://www.crn.com/news/computing/2026/michael-dell-on-biggest-2026-investments-in-storage-ai-and-partners |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Beyond Dell Technologies, Michael Dell maintains an active investment portfolio through his family office, DFO Management. His investments span a range of sectors and publicly traded companies. In the fourth quarter of 2025, regulatory filings revealed that Dell made strategic adjustments to his portfolio, including a significant reduction in his holdings in [[Hayward Holdings Inc.]]<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-17 |title=Michael Dell's Strategic Moves: Significant Reduction in Hayward Holdings Inc. |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michael-dells-strategic-moves-significant-000440998.html |work=Yahoo Finance |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Dell also maintained an active personal investment portfolio outside of Dell Technologies. Through his family office, DFO Management, Dell held significant positions in various companies. In his fourth-quarter 2025 13F filing, Dell disclosed strategic portfolio adjustments, including a significant reduction in his position in Hayward Holdings Inc.<ref name="yahoo2026">{{cite web |date=2026-02-17 |title=Michael Dell's Strategic Moves: Significant Reduction in Hayward Holdings Inc. |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michael-dells-strategic-moves-significant-000440998.html |publisher=Yahoo Finance |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Dell's investment activities also extend to real estate. In February 2026, a private investment firm backed by Dell purchased the [[Four Seasons Resort]] and Residences in [[Jackson Hole]], [[Wyoming]], for an estimated $350 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-20 |title=Four Seasons Resort In Jackson Sells For An Estimated $350 Million |url=https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/02/20/four-seasons-resort-in-jackson-sells-for-an-estimated-650-million/ |work=Cowboy State Daily |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Dell's private investment activities also extended to real estate. In February 2026, a private investment firm backed by Michael Dell purchased the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in [[Jackson Hole, Wyoming]], for an estimated $350 million.<ref name="cowboy2026">{{cite news |date=2026-02-20 |title=Four Seasons Resort In Jackson Sells For An Estimated $350 Million |url=https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/02/20/four-seasons-resort-in-jackson-sells-for-an-estimated-650-million/ |work=Cowboy State Daily |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Michael Dell is married to Susan Dell (née Lieberman). A profile in ''[[Texas Monthly]]'' provided a detailed look at Susan Dell and the couple's life in Austin, Texas.<ref>{{cite news |title=Suddenly Susan |url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/content/suddenly-susan |work=Texas Monthly |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The couple has four children and resides in [[Austin, Texas]]. Michael Dell's brother, [[Adam Dell]], is a venture capitalist.
Michael Dell is married to Susan Dell (née Lieberman). The couple has four children.<ref name="texasmonthly">{{cite web |title=Suddenly Susan |url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/content/suddenly-susan |publisher=Texas Monthly |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The family resides in [[Austin, Texas]], where Dell Technologies is headquartered. His brother, Adam Dell, is a venture capitalist and technology entrepreneur.


Together, Michael and Susan Dell established the [[Michael & Susan Dell Foundation]], which focuses on education, childhood health, and economic stability for families living in poverty. The foundation has donated billions of dollars to philanthropic causes over the years.
Dell and his wife are active philanthropists. They established the '''Michael & Susan Dell Foundation''', which has focused on issues including urban education, childhood health, and family economic stability. The foundation has directed significant resources toward improving educational outcomes for children in disadvantaged communities in the United States, India, and South Africa.


In December 2025, the Dells announced a personal commitment of $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for approximately 25 million American children through a program called "Invest America." The program, developed in conjunction with the Trump administration, aimed to provide children with investment accounts that could grow over time. In an essay published in ''The Free Press'', Dell connected the initiative to his own childhood experience of opening a savings account, writing about the formative impact that early exposure to saving and investing had on his life.<ref name="dell-essay" /><ref>{{cite news |date=2025-12-02 |title=Michael Dell and his wife pledge $6.25 billion to fund Invest America accounts for kids |url=https://fortune.com/article/michael-susan-dell-trump-accounts-invest-america/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The pledge represented one of the largest individual philanthropic commitments in American history.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-12-02 |title=Michael and Susan Dell to donate $6.25 billion to fund 'Trump accounts' for 25 million U.S. kids |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/michael-susan-dell-trump-accounts.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In December 2025, Michael and Susan Dell announced their largest philanthropic commitment to date: a $6.25 billion pledge to fund a program called '''Invest America''', which would create investment accounts for approximately 25 million American children.<ref name="cnbc2025" /> Writing in ''The Free Press'' about his motivation, Dell recalled his own childhood experience of opening a savings account with just a few dollars and the formative impact that early exposure to saving and investing had on his life.<ref name="freepress2025" /> He described the initiative as an effort to extend similar opportunities to millions of children across the country.<ref name="fortune2025">{{cite news |date=2025-12-02 |title=Michael Dell and his wife pledge $6.25 billion to fund Invest America accounts for kids |url=https://fortune.com/article/michael-susan-dell-trump-accounts-invest-america/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Michael Dell has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career for his contributions to the technology industry and business innovation.
Michael Dell has received numerous awards and honors over the course of his career in recognition of his contributions to the technology industry and to business innovation.
 
The [[Franklin Institute]] awarded Dell the '''Benjamin Franklin Medal''' in the category of Computer and Cognitive Science, recognizing his role in transforming the personal computer industry through the direct sales model and supply chain innovation.<ref name="franklin" />


The [[Franklin Institute]] awarded Dell the '''Bower Award for Business Leadership''', one of the most prestigious honors in American science and business, recognizing his impact on the global technology industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael S. Dell — Franklin Institute Laureate |url=https://www.fi.edu/laureates/michael-s-dell |publisher=The Franklin Institute |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
He has appeared consistently on ''[[Forbes]]'' lists of the world's wealthiest individuals and most influential business leaders. As of 2025, he was ranked among the ten wealthiest people in the world according to the [[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]].


Dell has been recognized on numerous occasions by business publications. ''[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]]'' magazine profiled the rapid growth of his company in its early years, highlighting the innovative nature of the direct-sales model.<ref name="inc-1990" /> He has appeared regularly on the ''[[Forbes]]'' list of the world's wealthiest individuals and the ''[[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]]''.
Dell has been recognized by various business publications and organizations for his leadership of Dell Technologies through its multiple transformations — from a dorm-room startup to a publicly traded giant, through privatization, and back to public markets with the EMC merger. His 2003 commencement address at the University of Texas at Austin, where he had dropped out nearly two decades earlier, marked a notable moment in his public profile, as he reflected on the unconventional path that led to his success.<ref name="commencement" />


In addition to individual honors, Dell has been invited to speak at major national and international forums. His 2000 address at the [[National Press Club]] in Washington, D.C., reflected his status as one of the leading voices in the American technology sector.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Dell at National Press Club, June 8, 2000 |url=https://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2000/000608.mdell.html |publisher=NPR |date=2000-06-08 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In the technology industry, Dell has been recognized for his early and persistent advocacy of the direct-to-consumer model, which influenced how computers and technology products are sold worldwide. His decision to take Dell Inc. private and then to execute the $67 billion EMC acquisition has been examined in business schools and by industry analysts as one of the most consequential corporate transformations of the 2010s.<ref name="bloomberg2015" /><ref name="merger2016" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Michael Dell's career has been defined by his role in popularizing the direct-to-consumer business model in the personal computer industry. The approach he pioneered — building customized computers to order and selling them directly to end users — disrupted traditional retail distribution channels and forced competitors to rethink their own manufacturing and sales strategies. The Dell direct model became one of the most studied business cases in management education during the 1990s and 2000s.
Michael Dell's career spans more than four decades in the technology industry, beginning with a $1,000 investment in a dorm-room business and culminating in the creation of one of the world's largest technology companies. His introduction and refinement of the direct sales model for personal computers fundamentally changed the economics of the PC industry and influenced supply chain management practices across multiple sectors.
 
The creation of Dell Technologies through the merger with EMC Corporation in 2016 represented a strategic bet that the future of enterprise technology lay in integrated solutions combining computing, storage, and virtualization.<ref name="merger2016" /> The combined company became one of the dominant players in enterprise IT infrastructure, with a portfolio spanning from personal computers to cloud computing solutions.


The 2013 management buyout of Dell Inc. and the subsequent $67 billion acquisition of EMC Corporation demonstrated Dell's willingness to undertake large-scale strategic risks to reposition his company. The transformation of Dell from a PC-focused manufacturer into Dell Technologies, a diversified enterprise technology conglomerate, represented one of the most significant corporate reinventions in the technology sector.
Dell's management buyout in 2013 and subsequent return to public markets demonstrated a willingness to undertake large-scale corporate restructuring in pursuit of long-term strategic goals. The privatization allowed the company to make significant investments and acquisitions — most notably the EMC deal — without the constraints of quarterly public reporting.<ref name="forbes2013" />


Dell's philanthropic activities, particularly through the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the 2025 Invest America commitment, have extended his influence beyond the technology industry. The $6.25 billion pledge to create investment accounts for American children drew national attention and reflected a broader trend of technology billionaires directing substantial personal wealth toward social causes.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-12-02 |title=Michael Dell and his wife pledge $6.25 billion to fund Invest America accounts for kids |url=https://fortune.com/article/michael-susan-dell-trump-accounts-invest-america/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Beyond the corporate sphere, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the couple's $6.25 billion Invest America pledge represent a substantial philanthropic footprint. Dell has spoken publicly about his belief that early financial education and access to investment accounts can help address economic inequality in the United States.<ref name="freepress2025" /><ref name="cnbc2025" />


As of 2026, Dell continues to serve as chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, overseeing the company's strategic investments in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and enterprise infrastructure. His tenure as leader of the company he founded more than four decades ago makes him one of the longest-serving founder-CEOs in the technology industry.
As Dell Technologies continues to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure and next-generation computing in the mid-2020s, Michael Dell remains at the helm, one of a small number of technology founders who continue to lead the companies they created through multiple decades and industry cycles.<ref name="crn2026" />


== References ==
== References ==
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Latest revision as of 05:05, 24 February 2026


Michael Dell
BornMichael Saul Dell
23 2, 1965
BirthplaceHouston, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationBusinessman, investor, philanthropist
Known forFounder, chairman, and CEO of Dell Technologies
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin (attended)
Children4
AwardsBenjamin Franklin Medal (Franklin Institute)
Website[[dell.com dell.com] Official site]

Michael Saul Dell (born February 23, 1965) is an American billionaire businessman, investor, and philanthropist who founded Dell Technologies, one of the world's largest technology infrastructure companies. From a dormitory room at the University of Texas at Austin in 1984, Dell launched a personal computer business built on the then-novel concept of selling custom-built computers directly to consumers, bypassing traditional retail channels. That company grew into a multinational corporation that has shaped the global technology landscape for four decades. Dell serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies, a role he has held for most of the company's history. In 2013, he led a landmark $24.4 billion management buyout to take Dell Inc. private — the largest such transaction since the Great Recession — before returning the company to public markets in December 2018.[1] Beyond his corporate leadership, Dell has become a significant philanthropist; in December 2025, he and his wife Susan pledged $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for millions of American children through a program called Invest America.[2]

Early Life

Michael Saul Dell was born on February 23, 1965, in Houston, Texas.[3] He grew up in a middle-class household in Houston. His father was an orthodontist, and his mother was a stockbroker, exposing him from an early age to both professional ambition and financial markets.[4]

Dell demonstrated entrepreneurial instincts at a young age. As he later recounted, he opened a passbook savings account when he was six or seven years old, regularly bringing quarters to the local Savings & Loan.[5] This early experience with saving and investing left a lasting impression on him and would later inform both his business philosophy and his philanthropic endeavors.

As a teenager, Dell showed a keen interest in computers and business. He reportedly earned money through various ventures, including selling newspaper subscriptions, and he purchased his first computer at age 15. He quickly began taking the machine apart to understand how it worked, an experience that planted the seeds for what would become his life's work. His fascination was not merely technical but commercial — he was interested in how computers were sold and how the process could be made more efficient.[4]

Dell attended Memorial High School in Houston. By the time he graduated, he had already developed a clear sense that the personal computer industry offered enormous business opportunities, particularly if the traditional distribution model — which relied on retail intermediaries — could be restructured to connect manufacturers more directly with end users.[4]

Education

In 1983, Michael Dell enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin as a pre-medical student, following the wishes of his parents, who hoped he would become a physician.[6] However, his attention was firmly fixed on the burgeoning personal computer market. Operating from his dormitory room in the Dobie Center, a high-rise residence hall near campus, Dell began upgrading and selling personal computers to fellow students and local businesses.[6]

The dorm-room business grew rapidly. Dell found that by purchasing excess inventory from retailers, upgrading the machines with additional memory and disk drives, and selling them directly to consumers at competitive prices, he could generate significant revenue. The enterprise proved so successful that Dell decided to leave the University of Texas after his freshman year to pursue the business full-time.[4] He did not complete his degree, though he would later return to the university to deliver a commencement address in 2003.[7]

Career

Founding of Dell Computer Corporation

In 1984, at the age of 19, Michael Dell founded PCs Limited with $1,000 in start-up capital. The company was based in Austin, Texas, and operated on what became known as the "direct model" — selling personal computers built to order directly to customers, eliminating the retail middleman and the associated markup.[4] This approach allowed the company to offer lower prices while maintaining higher margins and to customize machines to individual customer specifications.

The direct sales model also provided Dell with a significant advantage in inventory management. Because computers were assembled only after an order was placed, the company did not need to maintain large inventories of finished products, reducing costs and the risk of obsolescence in a market where technology evolved rapidly.[4]

The company was incorporated in 1987 as Dell Computer Corporation. Growth was swift. By 1990, revenues had reached hundreds of millions of dollars, and the company was expanding into international markets. Dell went public with an initial public offering in 1988, raising $30 million and giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $85 million.[4]

Rise to Industry Leadership

Throughout the 1990s, Dell Computer Corporation grew to become one of the largest personal computer manufacturers in the world. The company's direct model, combined with an early embrace of internet-based sales, allowed it to scale efficiently. Dell became known for lean manufacturing, just-in-time production, and a relentless focus on supply chain optimization.

Michael Dell served as CEO during this period of rapid expansion. In a speech at the National Press Club in 2000, he discussed the company's strategy and the role of technology in the broader economy.[8] By this time, Dell had become one of the most prominent figures in the American technology industry and one of the youngest chief executives to lead a Fortune 500 company.

Transition and Return as CEO

In 2004, Michael Dell stepped down as CEO of Dell Inc., handing the role to Kevin Rollins, though Dell retained his position as chairman of the board.[9] The transition came at a time when Dell Inc. was the world's leading PC manufacturer, but the company would soon face intensifying competition.

By early 2007, Dell Inc. was confronting a series of challenges, including declining market share, an accounting investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and growing competition from rivals such as Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo. In January 2007, Michael Dell returned as CEO, replacing Rollins, in an effort to revitalize the company.[10][11]

His return was accompanied by a strategic shift. Dell began diversifying beyond its core PC business into enterprise computing, services, and software. The company made a series of acquisitions to bolster its capabilities in these areas.

In 2010, the SEC concluded its investigation into Dell Inc.'s accounting practices. The agency found that the company had failed to disclose material information to investors regarding certain payments from Intel Corporation and had engaged in accounting manipulations. Dell Inc. and Michael Dell personally agreed to pay penalties to settle the charges, without admitting or denying the findings. Michael Dell paid a $4 million penalty, and the company paid $100 million.[12]

Management Buyout and Going Private

In January 2013, Michael Dell announced a plan to take Dell Inc. private in a leveraged buyout valued at approximately $24.4 billion. The deal, conducted in partnership with the private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, represented the largest management buyout since the Great Recession.[1] Dell argued that taking the company private would allow it to undergo a long-term transformation away from the commoditized PC market without the pressure of quarterly earnings reports and public market scrutiny.

The buyout was contested by several major shareholders, including Carl Icahn, who argued that the offer undervalued the company. After a protracted proxy battle and a shareholder vote, the deal was approved in September 2013. Dell Inc. officially became a private company in October 2013.[1]

During the private period, Dell accelerated the company's transformation into an enterprise technology provider. The most significant move came in October 2015, when Dell announced an agreement to acquire EMC Corporation for approximately $67 billion, the largest technology acquisition in history at that time.[13] The deal was finalized in September 2016, creating Dell Technologies, a combined entity that encompassed Dell's PC and server business, EMC's storage products, and VMware's virtualization software, among other assets.[14]

Return to Public Markets

In December 2018, Dell Technologies returned to the public stock market through a complex transaction involving a tracking stock tied to VMware. The move allowed the company to reduce its substantial debt load incurred from the EMC acquisition while giving Dell Technologies access to public equity markets once again.[15]

Under Dell's continued leadership, Dell Technologies grew into one of the world's largest technology companies, with operations spanning personal computers, servers, data storage, networking, and cybersecurity. The company is consistently ranked among the top companies on the Fortune 500 list.

Focus on AI and Strategic Investments

In the mid-2020s, Dell Technologies positioned itself at the center of the growing market for artificial intelligence infrastructure. In early 2026, Michael Dell outlined the company's major investment priorities for the year, emphasizing storage, AI-capable personal computers, server shipments, what the company branded the "Dell AI Factory," and its channel partner ecosystem.[16]

Dell also maintained an active personal investment portfolio outside of Dell Technologies. Through his family office, DFO Management, Dell held significant positions in various companies. In his fourth-quarter 2025 13F filing, Dell disclosed strategic portfolio adjustments, including a significant reduction in his position in Hayward Holdings Inc.[17]

Dell's private investment activities also extended to real estate. In February 2026, a private investment firm backed by Michael Dell purchased the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for an estimated $350 million.[18]

Personal Life

Michael Dell is married to Susan Dell (née Lieberman). The couple has four children.[19] The family resides in Austin, Texas, where Dell Technologies is headquartered. His brother, Adam Dell, is a venture capitalist and technology entrepreneur.

Dell and his wife are active philanthropists. They established the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, which has focused on issues including urban education, childhood health, and family economic stability. The foundation has directed significant resources toward improving educational outcomes for children in disadvantaged communities in the United States, India, and South Africa.

In December 2025, Michael and Susan Dell announced their largest philanthropic commitment to date: a $6.25 billion pledge to fund a program called Invest America, which would create investment accounts for approximately 25 million American children.[2] Writing in The Free Press about his motivation, Dell recalled his own childhood experience of opening a savings account with just a few dollars and the formative impact that early exposure to saving and investing had on his life.[5] He described the initiative as an effort to extend similar opportunities to millions of children across the country.[20]

Recognition

Michael Dell has received numerous awards and honors over the course of his career in recognition of his contributions to the technology industry and to business innovation.

The Franklin Institute awarded Dell the Benjamin Franklin Medal in the category of Computer and Cognitive Science, recognizing his role in transforming the personal computer industry through the direct sales model and supply chain innovation.[3]

He has appeared consistently on Forbes lists of the world's wealthiest individuals and most influential business leaders. As of 2025, he was ranked among the ten wealthiest people in the world according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Dell has been recognized by various business publications and organizations for his leadership of Dell Technologies through its multiple transformations — from a dorm-room startup to a publicly traded giant, through privatization, and back to public markets with the EMC merger. His 2003 commencement address at the University of Texas at Austin, where he had dropped out nearly two decades earlier, marked a notable moment in his public profile, as he reflected on the unconventional path that led to his success.[7]

In the technology industry, Dell has been recognized for his early and persistent advocacy of the direct-to-consumer model, which influenced how computers and technology products are sold worldwide. His decision to take Dell Inc. private and then to execute the $67 billion EMC acquisition has been examined in business schools and by industry analysts as one of the most consequential corporate transformations of the 2010s.[13][14]

Legacy

Michael Dell's career spans more than four decades in the technology industry, beginning with a $1,000 investment in a dorm-room business and culminating in the creation of one of the world's largest technology companies. His introduction and refinement of the direct sales model for personal computers fundamentally changed the economics of the PC industry and influenced supply chain management practices across multiple sectors.

The creation of Dell Technologies through the merger with EMC Corporation in 2016 represented a strategic bet that the future of enterprise technology lay in integrated solutions combining computing, storage, and virtualization.[14] The combined company became one of the dominant players in enterprise IT infrastructure, with a portfolio spanning from personal computers to cloud computing solutions.

Dell's management buyout in 2013 and subsequent return to public markets demonstrated a willingness to undertake large-scale corporate restructuring in pursuit of long-term strategic goals. The privatization allowed the company to make significant investments and acquisitions — most notably the EMC deal — without the constraints of quarterly public reporting.[1]

Beyond the corporate sphere, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the couple's $6.25 billion Invest America pledge represent a substantial philanthropic footprint. Dell has spoken publicly about his belief that early financial education and access to investment accounts can help address economic inequality in the United States.[5][2]

As Dell Technologies continues to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure and next-generation computing in the mid-2020s, Michael Dell remains at the helm, one of a small number of technology founders who continue to lead the companies they created through multiple decades and industry cycles.[16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 GuglielmoConnieConnie"You Won't Have Michael Dell To Kick Around Anymore".Forbes.2013-10-30.https://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2013/10/30/you-wont-have-michael-dell-to-kick-around-anymore/#7a52b1224fd2.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Michael and Susan Dell to donate $6.25 billion to fund 'Trump accounts' for 25 million U.S. kids".CNBC.2025-12-02.https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/michael-susan-dell-trump-accounts.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Michael S. Dell".The Franklin Institute.https://www.fi.edu/laureates/michael-s-dell.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "Michael Dell".Inc. Magazine.1990-01-01.http://www.inc.com/magazine/19900101/4986.html#dell.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 DellMichaelMichael"Michael Dell: Why I'm Giving $6 Billion to America's Kids".The Free Press.2025-12-02.https://www.thefp.com/p/michael-dell-why-im-giving-6-billion.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "UT's Famed High-Rise Dorm Where Dell Launched to Close".Austin Business Journal.2014-04.http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/04/uts-famed-high-rise-dorm-where-dell-launched-to.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Commencement Address by Michael Dell".Dell Inc..2003-05-17.http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Michael Dell at the National Press Club".NPR.2000-06-08.https://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2000/000608.mdell.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Dell Doffs CEO Role".USA Today.2004-03-04.https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-03-04-dell-doffs-ceo-role_x.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Dell's Founder Returns as Chief Executive".The New York Times.2007-02-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/technology/01dell.html?ex=1327986000&en=51d4bc242b1c6e8f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Dell CEO Kevin Rollins Steps Down".BusinessWeek.https://web.archive.org/web/20100213162103/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2007/tc20070131_658871.htm?campaign_id=msnbc_dell.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "SEC Charges Dell Inc. with Disclosure and Accounting Fraud".U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.2010.https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2010/lr21599.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Dell to Acquire EMC for $67 Billion to Add Data Storage Devices".Bloomberg News.2015-10-12.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-12/dell-to-acquire-emc-for-67-billion-to-add-data-storage-devices.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Historic Dell-EMC Merger Complete, Forms World's Largest Privately-Controlled Technology Company".Business Wire.2016-09-07.http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160907005946/en/Historic-Dell-EMC-Merger-Complete-Forms-World%E2%80%99s.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Dell to buy data storage firm EMC".BBC News.2015-10-15.https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34505553.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Michael Dell On Biggest 2026 Investments In Storage, AI And Partners".CRN.2026-01.https://www.crn.com/news/computing/2026/michael-dell-on-biggest-2026-investments-in-storage-ai-and-partners.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Michael Dell's Strategic Moves: Significant Reduction in Hayward Holdings Inc.".Yahoo Finance.2026-02-17.https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michael-dells-strategic-moves-significant-000440998.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Four Seasons Resort In Jackson Sells For An Estimated $350 Million".Cowboy State Daily.2026-02-20.https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/02/20/four-seasons-resort-in-jackson-sells-for-an-estimated-650-million/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Suddenly Susan".Texas Monthly.http://www.texasmonthly.com/content/suddenly-susan.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Michael Dell and his wife pledge $6.25 billion to fund Invest America accounts for kids".Fortune.2025-12-02.https://fortune.com/article/michael-susan-dell-trump-accounts-invest-america/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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