Michael and Susan Dell
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(by Steve Kopack, NBC News) – Tech billionaires Michael and Susan Dell announced [during a press conference at the White House] on Tuesday that they are pledging $6.25 billion to create some 25 million additional “Trump Accounts” for children across the country.
These accounts will be seeded with $250 each, and available for children who [are not eligible] for the $1,000 federally funded “Trump Accounts” for babies born after Jan. 1, 2025.
Children living in ZIP codes with median incomes below $150,000 will be the first to receive the funds, the White House said.
“The greatest investment that we could possibly make is in children,” Susan Dell said alongside President Donald Trump at the White House.
“It’s really an amazing moment that two people would do that kind of a contribution,” Trump said.
The president said he was also talking to other wealthy donors and friends to potentially make similar contributions.
Asked how this donation came to be, Michael Dell said: “We started talking about Texas only at the beginning. And then we thought about it some more, and we went back and forth, as we do on these things, and this is where we ended up.”
The Dells said they considered making the pledge for a long time. But they said they didn’t want the pledge to be the end of their involvement.
Michael Dell encouraged states to “really grow financial literacy” to help educate families about how the accounts and markets work.
“These deposits will reach the accounts of most children age 10 and under who were born prior to the qualifying date for the federal newborn contribution,” the Dells said in a statement issued by their foundation.
“Children older than 10 may benefit, too, if funds remain available after initial sign-ups,” the Dell family said. “It is an incredibly practical and direct step to help families begin saving today.”
The Dells say they “believe this effort will expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and help more children take ownership of their future.”
The Dell family gift “is expected to reach nearly 80% of children age 10 and under across 75% of U.S. zip codes,” according to the nonprofit Invest America.
Children born after Jan. 1, 2025 and until Dec. 31, 2028, will receive an account infused with a $1,000 investment from the U.S. Treasury, as part of the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill.
The accounts will open and begin accepting contributions starting on July 4, 2026. The accounts will initially be held by a financial firm designated by the Treasury Department, but later will be able to be transferred to any brokerage firm.
Those accounts will also be eligible for additional contributions of up to $5,000 per year until the beneficiary child reaches age 18. Withdrawals from the accounts are not permitted until the children reach that age.
Trump accounts can be invested only in low-cost index funds or ETFs that either mirror the S&P 500 or “another American stock index,” according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
“These investment accounts are simple, secure, and structured to grow in value through market returns over time,” the Dell family said.
“Trump Accounts represent a potentially valuable tool for building up savings and tapping the power of compound growth for the young,” Charles Schwab tax planning director Hayden Adams recently wrote.
If a family could contribute and invest the maximum $5,000 per year in the accounts, and with a reasonable growth rate of about 6%, “by age 18, the child’s account would hold around $191,000 in assets.”
Once a child turns 18, the accounts are eligible to be converted to a traditional individual retirement account, “meaning it could continue to accumulate potential gains on a tax-free basis” for many years.
The Dells are one of the wealthiest families in America, with a fortune of nearly $150 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires. The family’s primary source of wealth is Dell Technologies, the company founded by Michael Dell in 1984.
In recent years, the value of Dell shares have been fueled by the booming AI revolution, for which Dell is a supplier of servers and other technology.
Published at NBC News on Dec. 2, 2025. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.
Questions
NOTE TO STUDENTS: Before answering the questions, read the “Background” below and watch the videos under “Resources.”
1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)
2. a) Who is eligible for the $250 from the Dells’ donation?
b) What percent of children are expected to receive these gifts?
3. a) What did Michael Dell encourage state governments to do to help families?
b) What do you think of this idea?
4. Who is eligible for the $1,000 Trump Accounts?
5. Re-read paragraphs 15-21 explaining how the Trump accounts will work. How does this news inspire you?
6. What is your reaction to the following information?
- Michael Dell said he had previously discussed with the President the idea of encouraging companies and wealthy individuals to help finance these accounts, and the Dells’ gift was presented as a direct response to this call to action.
- The president said he was also talking to other wealthy donors and friends to potentially make similar contributions.
- Michael Dell described it as a “small financial head start” to encourage compounding growth and family savings, calling it impractical without the government’s framework.
Background
From a Google search for “Did President Trump solicit the donation from the Dells to child savings accounts?”:
Yes, President Trump announced a donation of $6.25 billion from Michael and Susan Dell for the “Trump Accounts,” which are a new child savings initiative he championed.
Michael Dell said he had previously discussed with the President the idea of encouraging companies and wealthy individuals to help finance these accounts, and the Dells’ gift was presented as a direct response to this call to action.
The announcement: The Dells’ donation was announced at a White House event on December 2, 2025, with President Trump.
The Dells’ motivation: The couple stated they were inspired by the federal program and wanted to support it by providing seed money for children.
The initiative’s goal: The goal of the “Trump Accounts” program is to provide an investment account for children, and the Dells’ donation will provide $250 to 25 million children.
From a Dec 2 Grok query “Did Trump ask the Dells to make the donation?”:
The context of the press conference President Trump held with the Dells to announce their donation strongly suggests his administration’s involvement in soliciting or encouraging it: the announcement occurred on Giving Tuesday, Trump joined the Dells for the reveal, and he praised the program as a key part of his “big beautiful bill” (the Working Families Tax Cuts Act), emphasizing how it invites “generous donors” like corporations and philanthropists to contribute.
Trump also stated he would personally donate to the accounts, framing it as a collaborative push to “supercharge” the initiative.
Key Details on the Donation and Program:
- What the Dells donated: $6.25 billion to provide $250 seed deposits into Trump Accounts for approximately 25 million children under age 10 (born before 2025), targeting those in zip codes with median household incomes of $150,000 or less. This expands beyond the federal government’s $1,000 deposits for newborns born between 2025–2028.
- Program overview: Trump Accounts are locked investment vehicles (tracking stock indexes) that families, employers, or donors can contribute to (up to $5,000/year from individuals). Funds are inaccessible until age 18 and can then be used for education, home down payments, business startups, or as an IRA rollover.
- Impact: Michael Dell described it as a “small financial head start” to encourage compounding growth and family savings, calling it impractical without the government’s framework. It’s one of the largest direct philanthropic gifts to U.S. children ever.
- This move aligns with President Trump’s broader economic agenda to build “wealth from birth,” and reactions on X (formerly Twitter) have been largely positive, with users calling it a “game-changer” for America’s future.
Read details about the Trump Accounts and the Dells contribution at whitehouse.gov.
Resources
Watch a December 2, 2025 CBS News report:
Michael Dell on CNBC, December 2, 2025:
President Trump announced the Dells’ gift at the White House, December 2, 2025:
How Trump Accounts will impact kids:
Daily “Answers” emails are provided for Daily News Articles, Tuesday’s World Events and Friday’s News Quiz.