Tech billionaire couple Michael and Susan Dell have committed a staggering $6.25 billion donation to the newly formed Trump Accounts.
The massive donation is intended to strengthen investment accounts for approximately 25 million children across the US. There is little precedence for such a gift, with only a handful of single charitable commitments in the past 25 years exceeding $1 billion.
The Dells also hailed the newly formed program as a chance to “build hope and opportunity and prosperity for generations to come”. Trump Accounts is a federal initiative backed by the US President Donald Trump which will offer $1,000 investment accounts to American babies starting next year.
Who are Michael and Susan Dell?
Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, launched his company in 1984 as a University of Texas student with just $1,000, becoming the youngest Fortune 500 CEO at age 27.
Today, the 60-year-old Texas native has a net worth of $148-151 billion, according to Forbes and Bloomberg, driven by his stakes in Dell (50%), VMware (40%), and family office DFO Management. Dell Technologies, a global leader in PCs, servers, and cloud computing, boasts a $90 billion market cap, according to the Economic Times.
Michael, who is currently the world’s 10th richest person according to Forbes, has also written two books: “Direct from Dell” and “Play Nice But Win.”
Susan, who has been married to Michael since 1989, co-founded the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in 1999, focusing on education, family economic stability, and global poverty reduction, with over $2.9 billion donated since inception.
The 59-year-old former fashion entrepreneur launched luxury brand Phi and competed in elite marathons, triathlons, and the Ironman World Championship. Her personal net worth sits around $2.5 billion, though much of the couple’s wealth is intertwined, according to MARCA.
How will children benefit from the donation?
According to the Dells, the donation is expected to reach nearly 80 per cent of eligible children across 75 per cent of ZIP codes in the US. The effort is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law earlier this year by President Donald Trump.
The donation will focus on children living in ZIP codes where the median income is below $150,000, Michael told NPR.
How will Trump Accounts function?
According to an NPR report, money deposited in the Trump Accounts will grow over time through investments in low-cost stock funds that track major market indexes.
Once the child turns 18, they can either transfer the money into a retirement account or use it for higher education, purchasing a home, or starting a business.
The child’s parents can also deposit up to $5,000 per year in the accounts until the child turns 18.
