In an unprecedented move on December 2, 2025, Michael and Susan Dell announced a $6.25 billion pledge to fund investment accounts for 25 million American children—a philanthropic act that has been described as one of the largest private donations in U.S. history. The initiative, designed to dovetail with the federal “Trump Accounts” program, was unveiled at the White House alongside President Donald Trump and several Republican leaders, marking a significant new chapter in efforts to address childhood opportunity and economic mobility in the United States.
The Dells’ donation, timed to coincide with GivingTuesday, will provide a $250 grant to each eligible child under the age of 10. These funds will be deposited into the new “Trump Accounts,” investment accounts created as part of President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation passed in July 2025. The accounts themselves will officially launch on July 4, 2026—a date chosen to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, as Michael Dell explained. “We want these kids to know that not only do their families care, but their communities care, their government, their country cares about them,” Susan Dell told the Associated Press. “And we’re all rooting for them to have a wonderful future, a bright future, and that that’s available to them.”
The structure of the Trump Accounts program is both simple and ambitious. For every American child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, the U.S. Treasury will deposit $1,000 into an account set up for them. The Dells’ $6.25 billion gift will supplement this by providing $250 to children under 10 who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less—and who will not otherwise receive the $1,000 Treasury seed money. Children older than 10 may also receive the grant if funds permit after initial sign-ups, according to Invest America, the nonprofit helping the Treasury launch the accounts.
To access these funds, families simply need to open an account, after which the $250 is deposited automatically. The accounts are restricted to investments in low-cost, diversified index funds tracking the overall stock market, and withdrawals are not permitted until the child turns 18. At that age, funds can be used for education, buying a home, starting a business, or rolled into an IRA—though withdrawals will be taxed. As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified, “They can access them when they’re 18 or they can convert them to an IRA at that time. During the 18 years, parents or employers can donate with the tax deduction up to $5,000 to each account and philanthropists like Michael and Susan can add an unlimited amount to the account.”
The scale and intent of the Dells’ gift are striking. According to Invest America, this is the largest single private commitment ever made to U.S. children. President Trump, speaking at the White House event, called the Dells’ act “one of the most generous acts in the history of our country,” and pledged to contribute personally. “A lot of friends of mine have already told me they’re going to contribute a lot of money, too,” Trump added.
The hope, as articulated by both the Dells and government officials, is that this philanthropic spark will ignite a much broader movement. “The One Big Beautiful Bill’s Trump Accounts are a revolutionary investment by the federal government into the next generation of American children,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai told The Hill. “It’s also President Trump’s call to action for American businesses and philanthropists to do their part, too—Michael and Susan Dell’s $6 billion investment into America’s children is the first of many announcements to come for America’s children.”
Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies and currently ranked as the 10th richest American with a net worth estimated at $148 billion by Forbes, sees this as a natural extension of his and Susan’s philanthropic work. The couple has already given $2.9 billion through their foundation since 1999, with a strong focus on education. “We believe that if every child can see a future worth saving for, this program will build something far greater than an account. It will build hope and opportunity and prosperity for generations to come,” Dell said in a statement. “From our years of experience in supporting education, health, and financial stability programs, we know that this program will give young Americans more than a savings account. It will give them momentum. It will give them confidence and opportunity. This is what Invest America was designed to do.”
The Trump Accounts program itself is a response to persistent concerns about wealth inequality and the lack of financial security for young Americans. According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, about 58% of U.S. households held stocks or bonds in 2022, but the wealthiest 1% owned almost half the value of all stocks, while the bottom 50% held just about 1%. Meanwhile, the Annie E. Casey Foundation reported that roughly 13% of U.S. children and young people lived in poverty in 2024—a figure that many experts link to insufficient social supports for new parents, such as paid parental leave.
Brad Gerstner, venture capitalist and founder of Invest America Charitable Foundation, which is supporting the Treasury in launching the accounts, emphasized the transformative potential of the program. “Fundamentally, we need to include everybody in the upside of the American experiment. Otherwise, it won’t last. And so, at its core, we think it can re-energize people’s belief in free market, capitalist democracy,” Gerstner explained. He also noted the unique opportunity the government’s platform provides: “It’s hard to give effective dollars away at scale, particularly to the country’s neediest kids in a way that you have confidence that those dollars are going to compound with the upside of the U.S. economy. And so, this is a unique platform that’s being created by the government that I think can unlock major giving.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the program, some observers have pointed out its limitations. While the Trump Accounts may help young adults who are able to benefit from family or employer contributions over time, they do not offer immediate relief from childhood poverty. In fact, the same legislative package that created the accounts also included cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and child care—measures that could reduce support for low-income families. Ray Boshara, a senior policy advisor at the Aspen Institute and Washington University in St. Louis, remains optimistic about the program’s long-term prospects. “We would like to see this idea continue and get better over time, just like any big policy,” Boshara said. “The ACA, Social Security—they start off fairly flawed, but get much better and more progressive and inclusive over time. And that’s how we think about Trump Accounts. It’s a down payment on a big idea that deserves to be improved and there’s bipartisan interest in improving them.”
The Dells themselves acknowledge that their initial commitment was not planned to be so large. “We’re thrilled to be spearheading this in the philanthropy sector and are so excited because we know that more people are going to jump on board because really, we can’t think of a better idea and better way to help America’s children,” Susan Dell said during the announcement.
With the Trump Accounts program set to launch on July 4, 2026, and the Dells’ historic donation already inspiring both public and private sectors, the stage is set for a new experiment in American opportunity. Whether this initiative will fundamentally change the landscape of childhood wealth and mobility remains to be seen, but the scale and ambition of the effort are undeniable.
