Michael Saul Dell (b. 1965) is an American entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who founded the computer company Dell in 1984 while a student at the University of Texas at Austin.[1] He built the firm into one of the world's largest makers of personal computers by selling machines directly to customers, and he serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies.
Early life and education
Michael Dell was born on February 23, 1965, in Houston, Texas.[1] He attended Memorial High School and developed an early interest in computers and business. In 1983 he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, but he left after his first year to devote himself full-time to the computer venture he had started.[2]
Founding Dell
Dell began assembling and upgrading personal computers from his dormitory room, founding the business in 1984 under the name PC's Limited, later renamed Dell Computer Corporation.[1] His central idea was to sell computers directly to customers rather than through retailers, allowing buyers to order machines configured to their specifications. This direct, build-to-order model reduced inventory and costs and became the foundation of the company's rapid growth.
The company went public in 1988, and Dell became one of the youngest people to lead a Fortune 500 company.[2] Under his leadership the firm expanded from desktop computers into servers, storage, and technology services.
Dell Technologies
In 2013 Dell partnered with the private-equity firm Silver Lake to take the company private in a leveraged buyout, one of the largest such transactions in the technology industry.[3] In 2016 the company acquired the data-storage firm EMC in a deal valued at roughly $67 billion, among the largest technology mergers ever, creating Dell Technologies.[2] The combined company returned to the public markets in 2018, with Dell continuing as chairman and chief executive officer.
Philanthropy and writing
Together with his wife, Susan, Dell established the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, which funds programs in education, health, and family economic stability.[1] He is also the author of two books about business and his career, Direct from Dell (1999) and Play Nice But Win (2021).
Legacy
Dell is widely regarded as a pioneer of the direct-sales approach in the personal-computer industry, an innovation that influenced how technology products are marketed and distributed.[2] Among the recognitions he has received is the Bower Award for Business Leadership.[1]
