Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies, and his wife Susan pledged a whopping $6.25 billion on Tuesday to children under 10 in the U.S. to provide an incentive to take up new investment accounts for children that were created as part of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending legislation.
“We believe that if every child can see a future worth saving for, this program will build something much bigger than a bill. It will build hope, opportunity and prosperity for generations to come,” said Michael Dell, whose net worth is estimated at $148 billion, according to Forbes.
“If there’s one investment that never stops growing, it’s investing in children. They’re our future,” the Dells added in their Giving Tuesday announcement.
The Dells believe their pledge is the largest private commitment ever made to children in the U.S., and it certainly appears so, as the AP reports that few individual charitable pledges in the past 25 years have exceeded $1 billion.
Notably, the Dells’ $6.25 billion donation will work in tandem with the Trump Accounts, announced earlier this year.
Read also | Powell’s Stanford speech misses notes on economy, monetary policy — Here’s why
What are Trump accounts?
Trump Accounts were created as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill to help children under 18 invest and build a financially secure future.
American children born after December 31, 2024 and before January 1, 2029, for whom a Trump account is created, will receive $1,000 from the U.S. Treasury, which must be invested in an index fund.
In addition, parents can contribute up to $5,000 per year to begin with, while employers can contribute up to $25,000 per year to the Trump account.
The contributions, estimated by the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), will help an American child have an average account balance of $303,800 by age 18, assuming average U.S. stock market returns, if the maximum contributions are made.
“This $1,000 automatic deposit by the federal government gives every American newborn a transformative head start. These investment accounts are simple, secure and structured to grow in value over time through market returns,” Dell said in the announcement.
Read also | How Trump could topple the dollar
Who will get a slice of the $6.25 billion pie?
As part of their pledge, the Dells will deposit $250 into the accounts of 25 million children.
Those deposits appear to incentivize 25 million children, in addition to those already set to benefit under Trump’s new legislation.
“We’re most inspired by the chance to expand this opportunity to even more kids,” Dell said, adding that their $6.25 billion commitment “will plant 25 million more accounts.”
“These deposits will reach the accounts of most children aged 10 and under who were born before the qualifying date for the Federal Newborn Benefit,” the Dells said in their announcement.
“Children over 10 can also benefit if funds remain available after the initial sign-up. This is an incredibly practical and direct step to help families start saving today,” they added.
The goal is to motivate kids to claim their Trump accounts, save more money, and reap the benefits of investing in the stock market.
Read also | Trump health: White House shares update on MRI report amid uproar – details here
What inspired the $6.25 billion pledge?
The sudden, unprecedented commitment to the future of America’s children, they told Dell, was inspired by the “bipartisan leadership made possible by Invest America.”
“It also reflects something more: the power of collective action. It’s not just about what one couple, one foundation or one company can do. It’s about what becomes possible when families, employers, philanthropists and communities come together to create something transformative,” the billionaire couple said.
While encouraging parents and others to contribute to the accounts of the children they love, the Dells also emphasized the role of their gift, saying, “Others — like Dell Technologies, which matches the government’s contribution to the newborn children of American workers — are leading the way through critical support in the workplace. Some will provide through innovative state and local programs that help families in their own communities add to these accounts and gradually grow their savings.”
“Because the smartest investment we can make is not in what comes next. The smartest investment we can make is in who comes next,” concluded Michael and Susan Dell.
