Summary (tl;dr)

Michael and Susan Dell have pledged an unprecedented $6.25 billion to expand "Trump Accounts," a federal program designed to provide investment accounts for American children, aiming to give millions a financial head start.

Essential Background

"Trump Accounts," officially known as "Invest America Accounts" or initiated through the "Working Families Tax Cuts Act" (also referred to as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"), are federal investment accounts created by President Donald Trump's administration. The program was designed to deposit an initial $1,000 into investment accounts for every U.S. child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, to foster long-term financial security.

The Full Story

Michael and Susan Dell, through their philanthropies, announced a historic $6.25 billion donation in December 2025 to bolster the "Trump Accounts" program. This massive commitment, one of the largest single private gifts to U.S. children, aims to provide an additional $250 to 25 million American children under the age of 10 who were born before January 1, 2025, and reside in specific lower to middle-income zip codes. The Dells' contribution is intended to encourage more families to claim these accounts and broaden the program's impact. Recently, the U.S. Treasury Department unveiled new guidelines, on September 2, 2026, allowing employers to contribute tax-free to these accounts and enabling employees to make pre-tax payroll contributions, further facilitating growth for participating children.

Why It Matters

This substantial philanthropic investment by Michael and Susan Dell highlights a significant private-sector endorsement of a government-backed child savings initiative. The Dells' pledge and the recent Treasury guidance are expected to expand access to and the long-term financial benefits of "Trump Accounts" for millions of American children, particularly those in underserved communities. It sets a precedent for direct model philanthropy and aims to inspire other philanthropists and corporations to contribute to the program, potentially building substantial wealth and opportunity for future generations.

Geographic Location

• White House, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (President Trump praised the Dells' gift)
• Austin, Travis County, Texas, United States (headquarters of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation)