Michael Dell is a globally influential technology entrepreneur, best known as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of one of the world’s largest technology infrastructure companies, :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.

Michael Dell, whose full name is Michael Saul Dell, was born on February 23, 1965, in Houston, Texas, into a Jewish family. His father, Alexander Dell, was an orthodontist, and his mother, Lorraine Charlotte Dell, worked as a stockbroker. After graduating from Herod Elementary School and Memorial Senior High School, he enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin Medical School in 1983 at his family’s request. However, he left the university at the age of 19 without completing his degree.

From an early age, Michael Dell demonstrated a strong interest in technology. He purchased his first calculator at the age of seven and encountered an early teletype terminal during middle school. At fifteen, after experimenting with computers at Radio Shack, he bought his first computer, an Apple II, which he immediately disassembled to understand how it worked.

Michael Dell began his entrepreneurial career at the age of 19 by selling computers from his dorm room at the University of Texas. By the end of his freshman year, he had generated $200,000 in gross profit. While still a pre-med student, he launched an informal business in room 2713 of the Dobie Center residence hall, assembling and selling upgrade kits for personal computers. By obtaining a vendor license to bid on contracts for the State of Texas, and operating without the overhead costs of a traditional computer store, he was able to secure competitive contracts.

In January 1984, Michael Dell officially founded his own company as a personal computer sales operation under his name. Believing that selling PCs directly to customers could deliver significant cost advantages over traditional retail channels, he registered the company as “PC’s Limited.” The business operated from an apartment and sold between $50,000 and $80,000 worth of PC upgrades, kits, and add-on components.

In May 1984, the company was incorporated as Dell Computer Corporation and relocated to a business center in North Austin. The early team consisted of order takers, fulfillment staff, and a small production group assembling computers at long tables. The initial capital investment was $1,000, and during the company’s formative years, Dell received mentorship from Morton Meyerson.

In 1992, Michael Dell became the youngest CEO of a company listed in the Fortune 500. In 1996, Dell began selling computers over the web—the same year the company introduced its first servers. Dell Computer Corporation went on to become the world’s largest personal computer manufacturer.

In 2016, following the merger with EMC Corporation, the company was restructured as Dell Technologies, which Forbes ranked in June of that year as the world’s 165th largest company. Although Michael Dell stepped down from the CEO role in 2004, he returned in 2007 at the request of the board.

In 1998, Michael Dell founded MSD Capital LP to manage his family’s investments. The firm focuses on private equity, public securities, and real estate, and holds a significant portion of his personal wealth. He also maintains ownership stakes in hotels and restaurants. In 1999, he and his wife Susan Dell established a philanthropic foundation through which they support numerous social impact initiatives.

Michael Dell serves as an honorary member of the Founders Board of the World Economic Forum and sits on the executive board of the International Business Council. He is also a member of the Technology CEO Council and Business Roundtable, and has served as the first Global Advocate for Entrepreneurship at the United Nations Foundation.

In addition to his business career, Michael Dell is an author. His published books include Direct from Dell and Play Nice But Win.

According to the Forbes Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Michael Dell had an estimated net worth of $130 billion as of December 2024, ranking him as the world’s 10th richest individual. Forbes reported his net worth in 2025 as approximately $115.7 billion.

Michael Dell married Susan Lynn Lieberman in 1989. The couple has four children: Alexa Dell, Zachary Dell, Juliette Dell, and Kira Dell.

Source: Biyografiler.com