Michael Dell
Chairman And CEO, Dell
$95.1B
Michael Dell currently serves as the chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, a global technology company that emerged in 2016 following Dell's landmark $60 billion merger with computer storage giant EMC. In late 2018, Dell Technologies returned to public markets through a complex financial restructuring.
Dell's cloud software arm, VMware, was spun off in 2021 and subsequently acquired by Broadcom in 2023 for $69 billion, with Dell retaining a significant 39% stake. Notably, much of Dell's wealth is attributed to his private investment firm, DFO Management, which holds interests in various sectors including hotels and corporate credit.
In a philanthropic endeavor, Dell donated over $3 billion worth of cash stock to his foundation in 2023. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, established by Dell and his wife Susan in 1999, focuses on addressing child poverty through initiatives in health, education, safety, youth development, and early childhood care. Over the years, the foundation has made significant contributions to various causes, including aiding victims of the 2004 tsunami in southern Asia and donating $50 million to the University of Texas at Austin in 2006.
In 1998, Michael Dell founded MSD Capital L.P., later rebranded as DFO Management, to oversee his family's investments. In February 2018, reports surfaced that Dell had acquired Manhattan's One57 penthouse for a staggering $100.5 million, setting a record for the city's priciest residential sale at the time.
On March 1, 2024, Dell's net worth surged past the $100 billion milestone, propelled by Dell, Inc.'s stellar earnings report, which drove the stock up by 32% in a single trading day. Bloomberg Billionaires Index noted a significant increase in Dell's fortune, soaring from $90.6 billion to $104.3 billion, positioning him as the 12th-richest individual globally.
DFO Management, LLC, serves as the Dell family's investment arm, offering flexibility to explore various asset classes. Originally established as MSD Capital, L.P. in 1998, it transitioned into DFO by the close of 2022.
Dell's investment strategy prioritizes mission-driven enterprises dedicated to enhancing the lives of those in urban poverty, particularly in regions like India, South Africa, and the United States. These investments are instrumental in advancing education, healthcare, and economic stability for underserved communities.
To support such investments, Dell uses a range of financial instruments, including equity, convertible securities, debt, impact bonds, and guarantees, ensuring a multifaceted approach to driving social progress through impactful investments.