Michael and Susan Dell Donate $6.25 Billion to “Trump Accounts” for 25 Million American Children

In a world where wealth inequality widens by the year and economic mobility often feels like a distant dream, one philanthropic move has just shaken the table, massively. Tech billionaire Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell, have announced one of the largest direct-to-citizen gifts in U.S. history: $250 for each of 25 million children, totaling an unprecedented $6.25 billion.

This isn’t just another billionaire gesture. It’s a bold, actionable investment into the futures of millions of young Americans and it’s tied to a soon-to-launch federal initiative known as “Trump accounts.” Whether you love the name or loathe it, the program promises to reshape how America thinks about early financial empowerment. Let’s break down what this monumental gift means, how the “Trump accounts” came to be, and why the Dells believe this could spark a new wave of philanthropy across the country.

When Michael Dell built his computer empire 41 years ago, he bypassed retail stores and delivered directly to consumers. Today, he says this new philanthropic push follows the same instinct. “This is sort of the direct model philanthropy,” Dell said.

Instead of funding nonprofits or building foundations that distribute money in fragments over decades, the Dells want to place money directly into children’s investment accounts, no middleman, no bureaucracy, no guesswork about where the funds wind up. Their gift expands participation in the new federal investment program to include children up to 10 years old, as long as they live in ZIP codes with median incomes below $150,000. Originally, only newborns between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028 were set to receive funds from the government. Now, 25 million more children are in the pipeline to get a financial head start.

What Exactly Are “Trump Accounts”?

Despite the name, these accounts actually began as a bipartisan idea long before they were attached to former President Donald Trump. In 2021, Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital, had a simple family-table question: Why not give every American child a savings or investment account from birth?

He created a nonprofit, Invest America, and pitched the idea across Washington. It wasn’t until Michael Dell brought the concept directly to Trump this year that the plan gained political momentum. Thanks to a provision in the latest federal tax bill, “Invest America accounts” officially became “Trump accounts.”

Here’s how they’re expected to work:

The federal government will deposit $1,000 into an investment account for every baby born during the 2025–2028 window.
The Dells will contribute $250 each to 25 million older children.
Employers can contribute up to $2,500 per year, tax-free, to employees’ children.
The funds must be invested in low-cost index funds until the child reaches 18.
Accounts will be facilitated by the U.S. Treasury, though full details are still in development.

At a White House press event, Trump described the accounts as: “Real trust funds for every American child.” Whether this phrase is political theater or prophetic vision remains to be seen, but what’s clear is that millions of families now stand to benefit. In today’s political climate, bipartisan agreement is almost mythical. Yet both Democrats and Republicans have embraced the idea of child investment accounts as a smart, long-term approach to reducing inequality.

Michael Dell emphasized: “I don’t think this is in any way a partisan activity. It’s certainly not intended to be.” In other words, while the accounts carry Trump’s name, the concept itself is larger than politics, it’s about giving every child, regardless of background, a stake in America’s economic future.

Why the Dell Gift Is a Big Deal in the Philanthropy World

Let’s be honest: America has seen huge philanthropic announcements before, Bill Gates gave $20 billion to his foundation, Warren Buffett continues to donate billions in Berkshire Hathaway stock, and mega-donors like Phil Knight and Ruth Gottesman have committed billions to universities and medical centers. But those gifts are structured through institutions, foundations, or research centers. They aren’t direct cash or investments into the hands of everyday families.

What the Dells are doing is different. They’re bypassing the traditional charity pipeline entirely. Susan Dell put it best: “The opportunity now is to do something really major and really touch 25 million children that will really benefit from this in a huge way.” If successful, the Dells hope this model inspires other billionaires and corporations to follow suit. And many already appear interested. Major companies, including Dell Technologies, have pledged to match the government’s $1,000 for their employees’ newborns. This could spark a nationwide movement of direct-to-child financial empowerment.

A Vision for America’s Future

Michael Dell said something especially powerful: “If every child can see a future worth saving for, we will have built something far greater than an account.” Think about that. A child who grows up knowing they already have an investment account, who understands compounding, saving, ownership, will view their future differently. This isn’t a handout. It’s a head start. For families living paycheck to paycheck, this can spark conversations about financial literacy and long-term planning that often feel out of reach. And if funds remain after initial registrations, the Dells plan to expand eligibility to even more age groups, potentially impacting millions beyond the original target.

Interestingly, this massive nationwide initiative almost stayed local. The couple initially planned to focus only on Texas. But as conversations deepened, the idea grew. Michael Dell recalled: “We kind of started with a smaller amount, to be honest.” Susan Dell added that they were essentially planning to “adopt the state of Texas.” But ultimately, they took it national, recognizing the potential to change the trajectory of millions of lives nationwide.

Time will tell. But what’s certain is this:

25 million kids will soon have investment accounts.
Billions in seed capital will enter communities that historically lacked such opportunities.
More philanthropists and corporations may join, multiplying the impact.
Financial literacy may finally get the national spotlight it deserves.

Whether one credits Trump, the Dells, bipartisan policymakers, or a simple family conversation that sparked the idea, this move is set to shape America’s financial landscape for decades.