Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Ben
American investor and entrepreneur Michael Dell have a net worth of about $32 billion. One of the biggest technology firms in the world, Dell Technologies, was founded by him, and he serves as its CEO. In 1984, he began selling P.C.s out of his undergraduate dorm room, which was the beginning of his success story.
In the intervening years, he has expanded his empire to encompass data storage, computer hardware, software development, cyber security services, and other things. He also holds positions on many boards, including VMware and Microsoft Corporation. Thanks to his commercial savvy and vision in the tech sector, Michael Dell has become one of the world’s wealthiest people.
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What is Michael Dell’s Net Worth and Salary?
Michael Dell is an American business leader and technology entrepreneur with a staggering net worth of $52 billion. He got to this level of wealth by making smart investments and business decisions. After dropping out of college and giving up his medical degree, Dell wanted to start a computer service business with just $1,000.
Eventually, he grew his business into Dell Inc., which is now publicly traded and makes more than $90 billion annually. As the CEO, Chairman, and founder of one of the biggest computer infrastructure companies in the world, Dell Technologies, he owns about 50% of the company’s equity.
A big part of Michael’s wealth comes from things other than his main job at Dell. Most of it is in MSD Capital, his closely held investment company. The vehicle has many investments in real estate, private equity, stocks, or bonds. It manages assets worth $16 billion, most of which comes from Michael’s money, worth at least $12 billion.
Early Life
After playing with computers at Radio Shack for years, he bought his first one when he was 15. It was an Apple II computer, and Dell quickly took it apart to figure out how it worked. During his teenage years, Michael worked as a cleaner and sold newspaper subscriptions to make money.
Michael was very interested in computers and business, but his folks wanted him to be a doctor.
Dell gave in to their requests and went to the University of Texas to study pre-med in 1983.
Throughout the summer, he kept selling subscriptions to the “Houston Post.” Eventually, he made $200,000 a year just from this early business chance. Michael dropped out of college at 19 to focus on running his business.
Dell Computer Corporation
Michael Dell started selling upgrade kits for personal computers while he was still in college, and he only had $1000 to spend. He started his own business, “P.C.’s Limited,” in 1984 because of this. In 1992, it changed its name to “Dell Computer Corporation.”
By this time, Michael Dell was only 27 years old but was already the youngest CEO of a company in the top 500 with daily sales of $1 million.
Michael grew his business even more by starting MSD Capital L.P. in 1998. This company handled its assets and investments before Dell Inc. became the biggest P.C. maker in the world in 2001. Michael stopped being Chairman of the company in 2004, but he is still its CEO.
Real Estate
Michael Dell bought a $40 million penthouse at the Four Seasons Private Residences on Boston’s Dalton Street in 2017, making it the tallest private building in the city. He also bought another house in Los Cabos, Mexico, and put it up for sale for $18.5 million as an investment.
In 1996, he finished building a family home in Austin that was 33,000 square feet. The land was about 120 acres and had 8 bedrooms, a gym, and an indoor lap pool. Dell and his wife also owned other lots on the property. But they got into legal trouble when they got a property tax bill for $600,000 after their home was valued at $22.5 million. Dell claimed that the value was wrong because $30 million had been renovated since then.
On top of that, 12 miles from his family’s home in Austin was the Arabian horse-only 6D Ranch. Michael’s most recent home is near Kukio on the Big Island of Hawaii. This property was the perfect addition to Michael Dell’s luxury real estate portfolio. It had 7,500 square feet and 18,500 square feet and was in an exclusive area where only homeowners were allowed.
Ownership Stakes
Michael Dell is the only owner of MSD Capital, and he also owns 65% of MSD Partners, which handles assets worth more than $16 billion. In 2003, Dell Inc. went private for $25 billion; in 2018, it went public again. Michael owns half of the shares in the company. In 2015, he paid $67 billion for EMC Corp. to create Dell Technologies, the world’s most significant private technology company. Every year, Dell Technologies makes more than $90 billion in sales.
Pros and Cons of Michael Dell’s Net Worth
Pros
- Michael Dell has built a powerful and successful business empire that has helped him become one of the wealthiest people in the world.
- His investments in technology companies have had considerable returns, and he has been able to create new partnerships with industry leaders.
- He is also well known for giving away millions of dollars to good causes.
Cons
- While his success has undoubtedly been admirable, it has come with much criticism from those who feel he is too powerful or that his wealth is not in line with the realities of everyday life for most people.
- His company, Dell Technologies, has also been criticized for its labor practices and evading taxes in certain countries.
- His investments have also been scrutinized for their potentially corrupt nature, such as his involvement with fossil fuels and other polluting industries.
Final Thought – Michael Dell Net Worth
Michael Dell’s net worth is a testament to his success as an entrepreneur and investor. Despite the criticisms that have been leveled against him, one cannot deny his impact on technology and business. Ultimately, Michael Dell’s wealth serves as a reminder of how much can be achieved through hard work and dedication. He has undoubtedly proven that anything is possible with the right mindset.