Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell, have earned recognition as the top Texans on Forbes magazine’s newly released list of America’s 25 most generous philanthropists. This ranking highlights the couple’s significant contributions to charitable causes, particularly in education.
Central to their philanthropic efforts is the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, which made substantial commitments in 2024. According to Forbes, the foundation pledged $100 million to the Charter School Growth Fund. This fund currently supports over 600,000 students and aims to build new school facilities and provide additional resources.
As of the end of 2024, the Dells had contributed approximately $2.85 billion to various charitable causes, which represents about 2.6% of their net worth of around $109.6 billion. This commitment places them at 17th on the list, just behind eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam Omidyar, who have donated $3 billion, equating to 22% of their net worth.
Dell, who is the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies Inc., ranks as the 10th richest person in America, according to the Forbes 400 list released in September 2023. The Forbes ranking assesses total lifetime giving by U.S. citizens through the end of 2024, factoring in total donations as a percentage of net worth. Importantly, the magazine excludes pledges that have not yet been fulfilled or funds that have not begun to disburse.
At the top of the philanthropy list is Warren Buffett, whose lifetime donations total an impressive $62 billion, representing 30% of his net worth. Following him are Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, who have also made substantial contributions.
Other notable Texans on the list include John Arnold and Laura Arnold, who have donated more than $2 billion, constituting over 40% of their net worth of approximately $2.9 billion. The Arnolds transitioned from successful careers—John as an energy trader and Laura as an attorney—to focus on their philanthropic endeavors.
While Austin is home to the Dells, it is also the city of Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, with a net worth around $500 billion. Notably, Musk did not make the Forbes list of generous givers, with estimates suggesting his lifetime contributions through 2023 are about $620 million. To qualify for this year’s rankings, individuals needed to have donated at least $1.9 billion.
The recognition of Michael and Susan Dell underscores their ongoing commitment to philanthropy, particularly in education, and highlights the impact of their foundation in shaping the future of charter schools in the United States.
