Tech company Dell’s founder and CEO, Michael Dell, along with his wife Susan Dell, announced on Tuesday (December 2) that they have pledged $6.25 billion to provide seed funding for investment accounts for 25 million American children.
This donation aligns with the federal government’s establishment of the “Trump Accounts” and is hailed as the largest single charitable contribution for children in American history.
In the summer of 2025, Congress passed a tax plan that created children’s investment accounts informally known as “Trump Accounts.” This federal program aims to provide a $1,000 federal grant to every U.S. citizen born between 2025 and 2028.
The Dells’ significant donation will fill the funding gap in this program: they have committed to providing $250 in initial funding for children born before January 1, 2025, and under the age of 10. This donation specifically targets millions of low-income children who do not have access to federal assistance.
According to Invest America, this pledged funding will benefit 25 million children under 10 residing in zip codes with a median household income below $150,000.
“We want to help children who cannot benefit from government assistance programs,” said Michael Dell. He also emphasized their motivation to ensure that every child can benefit from early investments.
Dell reportedly became interested in this initiative around 2021 after hearing about the idea of creating investment accounts for children from hedge fund manager Brad Gerstner. Gerstner, the CEO of Altimeter Capital, later founded Invest America, which actively advocated for incorporating the program into the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Gerstner added that this legislation makes it easier for businesses and philanthropists to make large-scale charitable contributions. Dell Technologies has committed to matching the $1,000 grant deposited by the U.S. Department of the Treasury into employee’s children’s accounts.
Parents only need to open a Trump Account to automatically receive contributions from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
On Tuesday, President Trump praised the Dell couple’s charitable commitment on the “Truth Social” platform, calling it a “huge investment” in the future of American children.
The President extended heartfelt thanks to the Dells, stating that their generosity is a “vote of confidence for millions of hardworking American families.” He emphasized that the “Trump Accounts” program is an extension of his “America First” economic vision, aimed at expanding national prosperity by empowering families. The President also urged other entrepreneurs to follow suit and support this program.
The “Trump Accounts” are custodial individual retirement accounts (Custodial IRA) set to launch in 2026. Funds are limited to diversified funds tracking U.S. stock indices. Parents and relatives can contribute up to $5,000 annually. While it may not have the same tax advantages as other retirement accounts, its core goal is to help children gain financial literacy early through the long-term compounding effects of the stock market.