Michael Dell

Michael Dell is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist best known as the founder of Dell and the chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies.

Michael Dell founded Dell Technologies from his dorm room in 1984. He remains chairman and CEO of the company, which is now one of the world's largest technology firms.

What it is

Michael Dell is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist best known as the founder of Dell and the chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies. He started the company in 1984 while a student at the University of Texas at Austin and later returned as CEO of the restructured company. He is among the world’s wealthiest people, with net worth estimates varying by source and date.

How it started

Michael Saul Dell was born in Houston, Texas, in 1965. He attended the University of Texas at Austin but left after his freshman year to focus on his business. In 1984, with US$1,000 from his dorm room, he started a company that sold personal computers directly to customers, avoiding intermediaries. This model helped Dell grow rapidly.

Key details

Dell led the original company, stepped down as CEO in 2004, and returned in 2007. He became CEO of Dell Technologies in 2016 after the EMC merger. As of May 2026, Bloomberg and Forbes estimated his net worth at about US$212.8 billion. He and his wife Susan lead the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, which supports charitable causes.