Michael Dell

Biography

Dell founded his company in 1984 with $1,000, selling build-to-order PCs directly to customers — a model that cut out retailers and reshaped the computer industry. He took Dell Technologies private in a $24.9 billion buyout in 2013, then completed the $67 billion acquisition of EMC in 2016, then the largest technology deal in history.

American entrepreneur who started selling PCs from a University of Texas dorm room in 1984 and built Dell into a technology infrastructure giant.

Known for

Founding Dell Technologies from his college dorm room.

Notable works & defining projects

• Dell Technologies
• Direct from Dell (book, 1999)
• EMC acquisition (2016)

Notable achievements

• Founded Dell in 1984; became the youngest Fortune 500 CEO in 1992
• Led the $24.9 billion buyout that took Dell private in 2013
• Closed the $67 billion EMC acquisition in 2016, then the largest tech deal ever

Timeline

1. 1984Founded the company that became Dell from his dorm room
2. 1988Took Dell public
3. 2016Completed the $67 billion acquisition of EMC

Did you know?

• He started the company from his dorm room at the University of Texas at Austin
• His direct-sales model let customers order custom PCs built to order, undercutting store prices