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What is Michael Dell Net Worth?
Michael Dell, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Dell Technologies, has an estimated net worth of $95.2 billion. This wealth is primarily derived from his substantial holdings in Dell Technologies and VMware, as well as his investments through MSD Capital, his private investment firm.
Dell’s net worth has seen substantial growth recently, particularly due to a surge in Dell Technologies’ stock, which jumped 32% following strong fourth-quarter earnings driven by demand for AI-related equipment. This increase added $13.7 billion to his net worth, pushing it past the $100 billion mark for the first time.
In addition to his stake in Dell Technologies, Dell’s wealth is bolstered by his investments in various asset classes through MSD Capital. This firm manages over $31 billion in assets and has significant holdings in real estate, private equity, and public markets. His notable real estate investments include luxury hotels and significant properties in cities like Dallas and Austin.
Dell’s business venture began with a $1,000 investment in 1984, which he used to start selling computer upgrade kits from his college dorm room. This venture eventually grew into Dell Technologies, a company that now generates over $90 billion in annual revenue.
His strategic moves, such as taking Dell private in 2013 and acquiring EMC Corporation for $67 billion in 2015, have been pivotal in expanding his wealth and the company’s market position.
Here’s the breakdown of Michael Dell’s net worth:
Name: | Michael Dell |
Net Worth: | $95.2 Billion |
Date of Birth: | Feb 23, 1965 |
Profession: | Entrepreneur, Businessperson |
If you’re curious about how we estimate a celebrity’s net worth, you can check out our methodology here.
MSD Capital
MSD Capital is the private investment firm founded by Michael Dell in 1998 to manage his family’s wealth. The firm has grown to become one of the largest single-family offices in the world, with over $31 billion in assets under management. Michael Dell is the sole owner of MSD Capital and owns 65% of MSD Partners, which manages more than $16 billion in combined assets.
MSD Capital employs a multifaceted investment strategy, focusing on generating superior, risk-adjusted returns across a diverse portfolio. The firm invests in various asset classes, including real estate, private equity, public equity, and credit.
Notable real estate investments include luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, The Boca Raton, and Naples Beach Club.
Moreover, MSD Capital owns significant holdings on Knox Street in Dallas, over 13,000 multifamily units, and numerous developments in Austin, Texas.
In 2023, MSD Partners, an investment advisory firm founded by the principals of MSD Capital, merged with BDT & Company to form BDT & MSD Partners. This merger created a combined entity managing $50 billion in assets, positioning itself as a premier money manager for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The firm focuses on building an optimized portfolio around four key asset classes: private capital, credit, growth equity, and real estate.
Early Life
Michael Dell showed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. Born on February 23, 1965 in Houston, Texas to a stockbroker mother and orthodontist father.
At age 8, he applied to take a high school equivalency exam to get into business faster. As a teenager, he invested money from part-time jobs into stocks and precious metals.
At 15, he purchased an early Apple computer just to disassemble and understand it.
In high school, he earned $18,000 in one year selling newspaper subscriptions using targeted marketing.
Despite his parents wanting him to become a doctor, Dell’s passion for computers and business led him to the University of Texas at Austin to study pre-med in 1983. It was here that he started upgrading and selling PCs from his dorm room.
Dell Computer Corporation
With just $1,000 in capital, Michael Dell founded PC’s Limited (later Dell Computer Corporation) in 1984 at age 19 while still a freshman at UT Austin.
He purchased surplus PCs, upgraded them, and sold directly to customers via mail order and phone. Sales reached $80,000 per month by his second semester, prompting him to drop out. The direct-to-consumer model and lean operations allowed undercutting retail prices.
Dell went public in 1988, and by 1992 at age 27, Dell was the youngest CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Since then, the company’s focus on build-to-order PCs, supply chain efficiency, and customer service fueled rapid growth. In 2001, Dell became the world’s largest PC maker.
However, the company faced challenges like a 2006 battery recall.
In 2013, Dell took the company private again for $24.9 billion before re-listing in 2018.
His strategic moves like acquiring EMC for $67 billion in 2015 transformed the company into an enterprise tech giant now called Dell Technologies.
Personal Real Estate
Dell’s primary residence is a 33,000-square-foot mansion known locally as “the Castle,” located near Lake Austin. The property includes eight bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a tennis court, and indoor and outdoor pools. The Dells own a total of 119 acres surrounding the mansion, which includes several vacant lots protected by a conservation easement.
Another property in Austin is the 6D Ranch, named after the six members of his family. This ranch is used for recreational hunting and houses Arabian horses.
In 2014, Dell purchased a penthouse on Billionaire’s Row for $100.47 million, setting a record for the most expensive home ever sold in the city at that time. The six-bedroom unit spans 11,000 square feet and offers expansive views of Central Park.
Dell owns a penthouse in the Four Seasons Private Residences One Dalton Street, purchased for $40 million in 2017. The 7,200-square-foot unit is located in the tallest residential building in New England.
Dell’s oceanfront property, known as the “Raptor Residence,” is located in the gated community of Kukio on the Big Island. The 4.3-acre compound is one of Hawaii’s most exclusive properties.
Family Life and Philanthropic Pursuits
Dell married Susan Lynn Lieberman in 1989, and the couple has four children. They reside in Austin, Texas, where they are active in the local community. Susan Dell is a fashion designer known for her involvement in the Austin social scene and for designing inaugural ball gowns for Jenna and Barbara Bush in 2001.
The couple founded the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in 1999, which focuses on grants related to urban education, childhood health, and family economic stability. The foundation has committed over $1.23 billion to various non-profits and social enterprises, including the establishment of the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas. Recently, the couple contributed an additional $3.6 billion to the foundation, bringing its total endowment to $5.2 billion.
Dell is also an avid golfer, tennis player, and skier. He supports the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Cowboys and is a known supporter of the Republican Party, having donated to various Republican candidates and causes.
Ashley Roberts is the founder of Real-Time Billionaires List. She founded this platform because she likes to know how much celebrities are actually making. She is always curious why these people can make much more money than the ordinary person.
With a Bachelor’s degree in finance, she is skilled at financial analysis and understands numbers related to wealth. Most of the articles on this site are edited by herself before publishing.
