Dell CEO Michael Dell Talks Donation To Fund 'Trump Accounts' For Kids

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks

Episode: Dell CEO Michael Dell Talks Donation To Fund 'Trump Accounts' For Kids
Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Bloomberg (Caroline Hyde, with guest Michael Dell)

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Overview

This episode features a landmark conversation with Michael Dell, CEO and co-founder of Dell Technologies, discussing his and wife Susan Dell's extraordinary $6.25 billion philanthropic initiative. Their donation aims to jumpstart investment accounts—popularly dubbed "Trump Accounts"—for 25 million U.S. children aged 10 and under, especially those excluded from a new federal child investment program. The episode delves into the motivations, logistics, broader bipartisan support, and societal implications of this transformative financial gesture.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Michael and Susan Dell's $6.25 Billion Philanthropic Initiative

• Scope and Target:

  • Dell and his wife Susan are donating $250 each to 25 million children across the U.S.
  • Focused on kids 10 and under from households with median incomes of $150,000 or less, who aren't already eligible for the federal program.
  • Michael Dell: “So think ages 2 to 10. We're going to give 25 million of those children $250 each in their account.” [01:45]

• Connection to Invest America Initiative:

  • Builds on the White House's Invest America Act, where the government gives $1,000 to every newborn in an S&P 500-linked account.
  • Accounts can be used at age 18 for education, entrepreneurship, saving, or purchasing a home.
  • Dell hopes their actions will "inspire them and give them hope and opportunity and prosperity." [01:56]

• Catalyzing Further Participation:

  • Dell expects other philanthropists and corporations to join or match contributions, both in scale and through targeted regional efforts.
  • Michael Dell: “I've spoken with a number of other philanthropists. I believe you'll see some other significant gifts.” [02:45]
  • Dell Technologies itself will match the government's contributions.

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How the Program Will Operate

• Direct Distribution Model:

  • Unlike some philanthropic efforts, the Dell money goes directly to the children’s accounts, not via government channels.
  • Michael Dell: “We are giving $250 directly to 25 million children.” [04:41]

• Timeline and Logistics:

  • Implementation expected by July 5, 2026, when parents can claim the accounts.
  • Initial custody is with a designated bank; families can later choose their preferred bank or brokerage.
  • Michael Dell: “...every parent will be able to claim the account for their child that's 18 and under.” [05:17]

• Bank and Asset Management Infrastructure:

  • Major banks expected to participate; parents/brokers will have flexibility in choosing the account institution.
  • Michael Dell: “I think it'll be, you know, all the major banks... the parents will be able to choose whichever their favorite bank or, you know, stock brokerage is.” [05:58]

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Broad and Bipartisan Support

• Non-political Positioning:

  • The initiative has cross-party support, with figures like Senators Cory Booker and Ted Cruz directly engaged.
  • Michael Dell: “There is completely bipartisan support for this idea. It's not a political initiative. This is about investing in children...” [06:33]

• Roots of the Concept:

  • Originated from conversations in 2021, credited in part to tech investor Brad Gerstner.
  • Gained traction only after the current administration facilitated legislative action.

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AI and the Future for Beneficiary Children

• Implications for Education and Economic Change:

  • Dell emphasizes the future landscape of work, shaped by AI and technology, and the need to teach critical thinking alongside technological fluency.
  • Michael Dell: “I would encourage kids and parents and educators to focus on the critical thinking skills and being able to analyze problems without the assistance of technology, but also use technology as... a tool.” [07:48]

• AI’s Potential and Economic Transformation:

  • Dell is optimistic about AI driving economic growth but acknowledges challenges and the need for retraining.
  • Michael Dell: “...as we get new and better tools, are we doing more work and solving more problems… or… doing the same amount of work with just fewer people... You could put me down for economic growth and prosperity as a result of these tools.” [08:14]

• Responsibility for Reskilling:

  • Retraining is a shared responsibility among companies, the government, and educational institutions.
  • Michael Dell: “I think it's a collective responsibility that we all have. I think every company has to reskill its workforce. I think the education system has to adapt and build the new skills and capabilities.” [09:16]

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Investment Risks and Long-term Perspective

• Market Volatility and Children’s Accounts:
  • Dell recognizes fluctuations but maintains confidence in S&P 500 as a long-term vehicle for growth.
  • Michael Dell: “Long term… investing these accounts in The S&P 500 is a very good way to compound over time for these children.” [10:04]
  • AI’s surge creates “a lot more demand than supply” for critical industries, promising productivity gains.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “We think the smartest investment we can make is in our children.”
  – Michael Dell [11:37]

• “There is completely bipartisan support for this idea. It's not a political initiative. This is about investing in children, and we think that's the smartest investment that we can make.”
  – Michael Dell [06:33]

• “I've spoken with a number of other philanthropists. I believe you'll see some other significant gifts.”
  – Michael Dell [02:45]

• On AI and future workforce:
  “I would encourage kids and parents and educators to focus on the critical thinking skills...[and] use technology as a resource and as a tool.”
  – Michael Dell [07:48]

• On shared responsibility for training:
  “I think it's a collective responsibility that we all have... There's a role for all of us to, to play in that.”
  – Michael Dell [09:16]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• $6.25B Philanthropic Donation Announcement: [00:24]–[01:56]
• Initiative Rationale and Scope: [01:05]–[02:45]
• Philanthropic Collaboration and National Reach: [03:22]–[04:17]
• Execution Logistics: [04:53]–[06:22]
• Bipartisan and Legislative Support: [06:22]–[07:09]
• Education, AI, and Future Workforce: [07:27]–[09:37]
• Investment Vehicles and Market Risks: [09:37]–[11:23]
• Closing Messages and Reflections: [11:23]–[11:41]

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This episode provides an incisive look at a bold philanthropic and policy experiment with widespread implications for economic opportunity, generational wealth, bipartisan collaboration, and the evolving role of technology in society. Michael Dell’s initiative goes beyond charity—it’s a signal for sustained national investment in America's youngest citizens.

Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Michael Dell]

Bloomberg.

[Caroline Hyde]

Audio Studios Podcasts Radio news One of.

[Bloomberg Host]

The biggest news that we had this morning was learning that Michael and Susan Dell are making a $6.25 billion don to jumpstart investment accounts for 25 million US children. The act of philanthropy from the co founder of Dell and his wife will apply to children 10 and under who aren't already eligible for government money, with Dell saying he expects to reach 80% of US children in that age range. The move builds on the Invest America initiative out of the White House, which many know as the President's push to financially cushion young Americans. Joining us right now around the desk is Caroline Hyde. She is the co host of Bloomberg Tech and she brings us right now the CEO of Dell, Michael Dell.

[Caroline Hyde]

A historic moment. Michael, welcome to Bloomberg. Compound interest, the eighth wonder of the world, some would say, and you're giving it. With 250 million US kids each getting a jump start of $250, why is this the right act of philanthropy for you?

[Michael Dell]

Well, you know, our foundation has been focused on children since the beginning. And when this Invest America act was passed earlier this year, you know, we saw it as a platform for companies and families and communities and philanthropists to contribute to these accounts. And as you probably know, you know, the government is giving $1,000 to every newborn in an account that will essentially go in the s and P500 and compound over time. And when they're, you know, the child's 18, it becomes like an IRA can be used for education, to start a business, to start a, for continued savings, to buy a home. And so what, Susan, I wanted to do was help out some of the kids that weren't included in the government program. And so the kids that are 10 and under that live in zip codes where the median income is $150,000 or less that aren't in the government program. So think ages 2 to 10. We're going to give 25 million of those children $250 each in their account. And we hope that, you know, this, you know, inspires them and gives them hope and opportunity and prosperity. I've spoken with a number of other philanthropists. I believe you'll see some other significant gifts. And we know many companies are going to match the government's contribution, as Dell Technologies is certainly doing. And a number of Companies have already announced. So we're super excited about what this can become over time as these accounts grow to be something significant.

[Caroline Hyde]

Tell us about that. Tell us about how you are calling on companies like you to match what many are calling the Trump accounts, but also will those match what you're now doing for 2 to 10 year olds, maybe 10 year olds and above? Have you fielded many calls?

[Michael Dell]

Well, you know, we just announced this this morning. I did speak with a number of philanthropists in the weeks leading up to our announcement and you know, well, I won't speak for them. We'll let them make their own announcements and they could be designed in a different way. I think you'll see some people adopting particular states or, you know, particular communities. And in fact, we started with the idea of doing this only in the state of Texas, but then we decided to do it nationally. So there can be many varieties and alternatives here. But we do think that this will be catalytic and that more philanthropists and companies will, will join us over time and again. This is a platform for the future of these children.

[Caroline Hyde]

Is it a platform for more giving from philanthropies or from billionaires such as yourself via government? It's extraordinary sort of turn of events that here you work working directly with the Treasury. Michael. We've also seen Timothy Mellon at one point offering to help cover the costs of U.S. troops during the government shutdown. Will more people be pushed and think it's right to work through the federal government?

[Michael Dell]

Well, I would say we're not working through the federal government. We are giving $250 directly to 25 million children.

[Caroline Hyde]

And this is being executed. I think we've just had a technology issue there. But Michael, you, this is being executed by the Treasury. When you think about how the process has been, you hope that it's, I understand, going to be seamless, going to be process is going to be swift. How quickly do you think it'll be in the hands of those children and indeed will it be in alignment with the Trump account? So July of next year.

[Michael Dell]

Yes. So on July 4th or I think 5th actually, because the 4th is a holiday of next year, every parent will be able to claim the account for their child that's 18 and under. And originally those, those accounts will be, you know, held in custody by a custody bank. And then eventually you'll be able to choose your bank or your brokerage that, you know, holds the account for you and it's the property of the child.

[Caroline Hyde]

What banks, what asset management have you been talking to? How do you think from an infrastructure perspective, this would work? Michael?

[Michael Dell]

Right. I have not been having the conversations with the banks. I actually, a number of them have told me that they're interested in being the banks to hold these accounts. I think it'll be, you know, all the major banks, and, you know, the parents will be able to choose whichever their favorite bank or, you know, stock brokerage is.

[Caroline Hyde]

What's so interesting is this has bipartisan support, as we understand from letters being yesterday, asking Cory Booker as well as Ted Cruz, asking those to come alongside you for corporates to.

[Michael Dell]

That's right. Spoken with. That's right. I spoke with Senator Booker last night about this. I spoke with Senator Cruz about this earlier today, and there is completely bipartisan support for this idea. It's not a political initiative. This is about investing in children, and we think that's the smartest investment that we can make.

[Caroline Hyde]

Michael, why do you think it wasn't picked up earlier than this? Since 2021, shout out to Brad Gerstner is almost his idea, this initiative. Why did it take this administration this time?

[Michael Dell]

Well, it's a great question. Brad did tell me about this in 2021. We talked to the prior administration about it. I think it's hard to get legislative action like this done, but now it's the law, and so here we are, and so we have a great opportunity for the future to. To build on this platform.

[Caroline Hyde]

You really have been focused on education and on kids, Michael, in your philanthropic work. You're also a man very focused on the world of artificial intelligence. What's life going to be like for these kids going forward, do you think? How much will they be allocating their money? How much will they be allocating their time? What does a work week look like, do you think?

[Michael Dell]

Well, it could be lots of, you know, debates about, about that. You know, what I would say is that I would encourage kids and parents and educators to focus on the critical thinking skills and being able to analyze problems without the assistance of technology, but also use technology as a, as a resource and as a tool. You know, at the heart of this debate really, is as we get new and better tools, are we doing more work and solving more problems, you know, and discovering new science and progressing further in the world, growing the economy? We. Or are we doing the same amount of work with just fewer people, because we have the tools. You could put me down for economic growth and prosperity as a result of these tools. Certainly there will be challenges and dislocations and retraining is certainly required. But from what I'm seeing, I think this is largely going to result in some really great outcomes. But again, it's not, it's not guaranteed success because of new technology.

[Caroline Hyde]

That justification, Michael, whose responsibility is that? Is that big tech's responsibility to retrain, to reskill, to help at least pay for it? Is it government's responsibility, education?

[Michael Dell]

I think it's a collective responsibility that we all have. I think every company has to reskill itself workforce. I think the education system has to adapt and build the new skills and capabilities. And you know, there's a role for all of us to, to play in that.

[Caroline Hyde]

And excuse me for this pivot, Michael, but of course many want to understand, of course, the, the focus on infrastructure from a money perspective here to kids. There's also the focus on the fact that stocks have to go up and to the right in the longer term for this to benefit those children. What do you think about a concern about an AI bubble and this really reaping rewards from a productivity perspective? Or are we in some sort of bubble or circular finance concern for you?

[Michael Dell]

Certainly markets do fluctuate and you know that well on Bloomberg, as you report about it, every, every single day, long term, we think, you know, you know, investing these accounts in The S&P 500 is a very good way to compound over time for these children. When I look at what's going on today in the enormous build out in AI, what I see is a lot more demand than supply for the ingredients. And certainly, you know, in our business and many of the companies in this enormous build out business is very good because there's enormous demand for what these models are creating, which effectively is intelligence. And if you now have a tool that, you know, causes everyone in your company to have 15 more IQ points in their daily work, well, that's something you probably want as much as you can get. And so there's enormous demand here. I think next year we'll be in a situation very likely where the demand exceeds the supply in many of the critical ingredients that go into the most advanced systems that we're building.

[Caroline Hyde]

Well, you're certainly building something extraordinary on this Giving Tuesday. 25 million children, $250 each. $6.25 billion being philanthropically given by yourself and Susan Dell. We thank you so much, Michael Dell, for joining us today.

[Michael Dell]

Thank you, thank you. We think the smartest investment we can make is in our children.

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[Caroline Hyde]

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