Michael Dell, born on February 23, 1965, is the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, with a net worth of $51.6 billion as of April 2023. He began his business journey in college selling computer upgrades, eventually leading Dell to become the world's largest PC maker by 2001, while also engaging in philanthropy through the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Dell's legacy is marked by his entrepreneurial spirit and significant contributions to technology and charitable efforts.

1. Michael Saul Dell
Michael Saul Dell, an American business
magnate and philanthropist, was born on
February 23, 1965. He is widely recognized as
the founder, chairman, and CEO of Dell
Technologies, a prominent technology
infrastructure company. As of April 2023, he
holds the 24th rank on the Bloomberg
Billionaires Index, with a staggering net worth of
$51.6 billion.
In 2011, Michael Dell's ownership of Dell
Technologies amounted to 12% of the company, with his 243.35 million shares
worth $3.5 billion. Despite divesting a significant amount of his shares, his
remaining fortune of roughly $10 billion is expertly managed by MSD Capital,
which incorporates his initials.
In a historic move, Michael Dell announced a bid to take Dell Technologies
private for $24.4 billion in January 2013, marking the largest management
buyout since the Great Recession. Dell Technologies officially went private in
October of that year, only to go public again in December 2018.
Early Life and Education: -
Michael Dell was born in 1965 in Houston, Texas, to a Jewish family. His
mother, Lorraine Charlotte, was a stockbroker, and his father, Alexander Dell,
was an orthodontist. Dell attended Herod Elementary School before moving on
to Memorial High School. Even as a child, Dell had a passion for business and
finance. He even applied to take a high school equivalency exam at the age of
eight, hoping to enter the business world early.
In his early teens, Dell invested his earnings from part-time jobs in stocks and
precious metals. He purchased his first calculator at age seven and encountered
an early teletype terminal in junior high. At the age of 15, after playing with
computers at Radio Shack, he got his first computer, an Apple II, which he
promptly disassembled to see how it worked.
Dell continued to pursue his interest in business while attending Memorial High
School. He sold subscriptions to the Houston Post in the summer and, with a

2. natural talent for sales, Dell quickly learned to target specific populations for
newspaper subscriptions rather than just making cold calls. He earned $18,000
that summer and hired several employees. After earning a gross profit of nearly
$200,000 in his first year of business, Dell dropped out of the University of
Texas at age 19. His parents had wanted him to be a doctor, but Dell's passion
for business led him to pursue other avenues.
Business Career: -
As a freshman pre-med student at the University of Texas, Michael Dell began
selling upgrade kits for personal computers out of his dorm room. He saw an
opportunity to bid on contracts for the State of Texas by operating without the
overhead of a traditional computer store. This informal business quickly grew,
and in January 1984, Dell registered his company as "PC's Limited."
From a condominium, the business sold between $50,000 and $80,000 worth of
PC upgrades, kits, and add-on components. Dell later incorporated the company
as "Dell Computer Corporation" and relocated to a business center in North
Austin. With a manufacturing staff consisting of only "three guys with
screwdrivers sitting at six-foot tables," the company's initial capitalization cost
was only $1,000. Dell's vision of selling PCs directly to consumers proved
successful, and in 1992, he became the youngest CEO of a company ranked in
Fortune magazine's list of the top 500 corporations. In 1996, Dell launched its
first servers and began selling computers online. By the first quarter of 2001,
Dell Inc. became the world's largest PC maker with a world market share of

3. 12.8 percent. In addition to his work with Dell Inc., Dell founded MSD Capital
L.P. in 1998 to manage his family's investments. He has also been involved in
numerous philanthropic and public service efforts.
Penalty: -
In July 2010, Dell Inc. was fined $100 million to settle charges brought by the
SEC related to accounting fraud and non-disclosure of payments received from
Intel Corporation. As part of the settlement, Michael Dell and former CEO
Kevin Rollins agreed to pay $4 million each, and former CFO James Schneider
agreed to pay $3 million to resolve the charges.
Accolades: -
Michael Dell has been recognized with several prestigious accolades throughout
his career, including the "Entrepreneur of the Year" award from Inc. magazine at
the young age of 24. He has been named "Top CEO in American Business" by
Worth magazine, as well as "CEO of the Year" by Financial World, Industry
Week, and Chief Executive magazines. In addition, he received the Golden
Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1998 and the Franklin
Institute's Bower Award for Business Leadership in 2013. These awards
highlight Dell's exceptional leadership and contributions to the business world.

4. Affiliation: -
Dell is a member of prestigious organizations such as the World Economic
Forum and the International Business Council. He has also served as an advisor
to the U.S. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. In
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was named to the Strike Force to Open
Texas and serves as an advisor on the COVID-19 Technology Task Force,
helping to find safe and effective ways to respond to and recover from the
pandemic.
Writings: -
In his first book, "Direct from Dell: Strategies That Revolutionized an Industry"
(Harper Business, 1999), Michael Dell shares his personal journey, the ups and
downs of founding and growing his company, and valuable lessons learned
along the way. Co-authored by Catherine Ferdman, the book offers readers an
inspiring look at the evolution of the tech industry from a true pioneer.
Dell's second book, "Play Nice But Win: A CEO's Journey from Founder to
Leader" (Portfolio), delves into the personal battles and challenges that shaped
him as a leader. Co-authored by James Kaplan, the book offers a candid and
insightful look at the mindset and strategies behind Dell's success.

5. Wealth: -
Forbes estimated Dell's net worth at $50.4 billion as of April 2021.
In February 2018, it was reported that in 2014, Dell had paid $100.5 million for
Manhattan's One57 penthouse, which was then a record for the most expensive
home ever sold in the city.
Personal Life: -
He married his wife Susan Lieberman in a beautiful ceremony held in Austin,
Texas on October 28, 1989. They have been happily married ever since, and
together they have raised four wonderful children. The couple currently resides
in Austin, which is also the birthplace of Dell Technologies.

6. Philanthropy: -
Michael and Susan Dell established their philanthropic foundation in 1999 with
a focus on grants, childhood health, urban education, and family economic
stability. Their noteworthy contributions include a $50 million grant to health-
related organizations affiliated with the University of Texas in 2006, as well as a
subsequent $50 million donation to establish the Dell Medical School in 2013.
By 2011, the foundation had committed over $650 million to support children's
issues and community initiatives in the US, India, and South Africa. In 2014,
Michael Dell donated $1.8 million to the Friends of the Israel Defence Forces,
and in 2017, he pledged $36 million towards Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. In
May 2017, Dell donated $1 billion to his foundation, which focuses on child
poverty and makes both impact investments and charitable donations. The
foundation continued its philanthropic work in 2020 by donating $100 million
to support small businesses and find treatments for COVID-19, and in 2021, it
donated $38 million to three non-profit organizations dedicated to housing
homeless people in Austin. As of 2023, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation
has donated over $2.43 billion towards various causes, showcasing Michael
Dell's dedication to making a positive impact on the world.
Conclusion: -
Michael Dell's story is a true inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. He started
his business at a young age and through hard work, perseverance, and a focus
on customer satisfaction, he turned it into a multi-billion dollar company. His
success demonstrates the importance of innovation, adaptability, and customer-
centricity in building a sustainable and successful business. His legacy
continues to inspire generations of entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and
create value for society.
"Recognize that there will be failures, and acknowledge that there will be
obstacles. But you will learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others, for
there is very little learning in success."