^{Photo: The Edge Singapore}

Michael Dell and his wife Susan have pledged $6.25 billion to establish and grow investment accounts for an estimated 25 million U.S. children, marking one of the largest philanthropic commitments ever made specifically for American youth. The initiative is designed to give children early access to long-term investing and to help families build financial stability over time.

The donation aligns with a new federal initiative authorizing tax-advantaged investment accounts known as Trump accounts. Under the government program, every U.S. citizen born between January 2025 and the end of 2028 will automatically receive a $1,000 federal grant deposited into their account. These accounts can be opened beginning July 4, 2026, with IRS guidance forthcoming. According to Invest America, which partnered with the Dells, this program is meant to create a foundational savings vehicle for young Americans during a period marked by rising living costs, widening wealth gaps, and limited access to traditional investment tools.

The Dells’ contribution focuses on the children left out of the federal rollout. Their $6.25 billion pledge will provide a $250 seed deposit into Trump accounts for children aged 10 and under who were born before January 1, 2025 and who live in ZIP codes with median household incomes of $150,000 or less. This targeted approach ensures that millions of families outside the federal eligibility window receive a meaningful start toward long-term savings.

Michael Dell told CNBC that the initiative was inspired by conversations dating back to 2021 with hedge fund manager Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital. Gerstner went on to found Invest America, which pushed for the inclusion of Trump accounts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Gerstner has long argued that early exposure to equity-based investing can dramatically alter a child’s financial trajectory, especially when funds are placed in low-cost index-tracking portfolios—an exclusive requirement for Trump accounts.

He emphasized that while the federal $1,000 seed or the Dells’ $250 contribution alone is not enough to grow into substantial wealth, the presence of an investment account encourages parents to contribute regularly. These additional deposits, paired with decades of market compounding, could ultimately help families reach milestones such as education funding, homeownership, and business formation.

Dell Technologies has also pledged to match the $1,000 federal grant for the children of its employees, underscoring the company’s commitment to increasing generational wealth opportunities. Parents are not required to do anything more than open an account to receive the Dells’ contribution.

There are few historical comparisons to the scale of this effort. A well-known example is the Harold Alfond Foundation in Maine, which grants $500 to every newborn in the state for educational savings. The Dells’ effort, however, reaches tens of millions of children and marks the largest private pledge ever aimed at widespread youth wealth creation.

Trump accounts differ from existing tax-advantaged vehicles such as 529 plans or Roth IRAs. Investment gains are taxed upon withdrawal once the child turns 18, when the funds are rolled into an IRA. Early withdrawals are not permitted, which reinforces the program’s long-term focus.

Michael Dell said he has spoken with multiple high-profile philanthropists who may also join the initiative. His long-term vision is that every American child will have an investment account by default, creating a cultural shift toward early saving and financial responsibility.

He emphasized the broader goal: giving every child a clearer path to upward mobility. With decades of potential compounding and millions of accounts seeded, the initiative could reshape financial inclusion in the United States for generations to come.