The Life of Michael Dell: From Dorm Room to Billionaire

Overview

Michael Saul Dell is a well-known American billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder, CEO and chairman of Dell Technologies, one of the largest technology companies in the world. He has a net worth of more than $50 billion as of 2021, which makes him one of the richest people on the planet.

Early Life and Education

Michael Dell was born on February 23, 1965, in Houston, Texas, to a Jewish family. His father, Alexander Dell, was an orthodontist and his mother, Lorraine Charlotte, was a stockbroker. He grew up in a well-to-do family but was always interested in computers and technology. At the age of 15, he started working part-time for a computer company, and it was then that he discovered his passion for computers.

He attended Memorial High School in Houston, but he was more interested in computers than in his studies. He even sold subscriptions of the Houston Post newspaper in order to save enough money to buy a computer. He started college at the University of Texas at Austin but dropped out at the age of 19 to run his own computer business.

Career and Achievements

In 1984, at the age of 19, Michael Dell founded Dell Computer Corporation with an initial investment of $1000. The company was one of the first to sell computers and computer peripherals directly to consumers via mail order. The company went public in 1988 and became one of the fastest-growing companies in the world.

Dell went on to lead the company through several milestones, including becoming the world’s largest PC maker in 2001. In 2004, he stepped down as CEO but remained as chairman of the company. In 2013, he took the company private in a $24 billion deal with private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, and the company was renamed Dell Technologies in 2016.

Apart from his involvement with Dell Technologies, Michael Dell is also known for his philanthropy. Through the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, he has donated millions of dollars to various causes, including education, healthcare, and disaster relief.

Personal Life

Michael Dell is married to Susan Lieberman, and they have four children together. Together, they have been actively involved in various philanthropic causes, and they founded the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation in 1999. In his free time, Michael Dell enjoys playing golf and is a member of several famous golf clubs.

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