In a move set to reshape financial futures for millions of American children, tech billionaire Michael Dell and his wife Susan have announced a monumental philanthropic commitment. On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the couple pledged a staggering $6.25 billion to incentivise savings for kids across the United States.
A Historic Pledge for the Next Generation
The announcement, made strategically on Giving Tuesday, represents what the Dells believe is the single largest private commitment ever made to children in the US. According to an Associated Press analysis, very few single charitable gifts in the past quarter-century have crossed the $1 billion mark, making this pledge truly historic in scale. Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies with a net worth estimated by Forbes at $148 billion, stated that the investment is in the nation's collective future.
"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," Michael Dell said. The couple echoed this sentiment, adding, "If there’s one investment that never stops growing, it’s investing in children. They are our future."
How the $6.25 Billion Will Be Distributed
The mechanics of the massive pledge are direct and practical. The Dell fortune will be used to deposit $250 each into the accounts of 25 million children. The primary beneficiaries will be children aged 10 and under who were born before the qualifying date for a separate federal newborn contribution linked to the program.
Children older than 10 may also benefit if funds remain after the initial sign-up period. The core goal is to provide a direct catalyst for families to start saving immediately and to claim the new investment vehicles created by recent legislation.
Understanding the Trump Accounts Initiative
The target of this generosity is the so-called "Trump Accounts," established as part of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill on tax and spending. These accounts are designed to help minors under 18 invest for a secure financial future.
The program's structure is robust:
- American children born between December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2029 automatically receive a $1,000 seed investment from the US Treasury into an index fund.
- Parents can contribute up to an additional $5,000 per year.
- Employers are permitted to make annual contributions of up to $2,500 to an employee's child's account.
According to estimates from the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), if maximum contributions are made and assuming average stock market returns, a child could have an average account balance of approximately $303,800 by the age of 18. The Dell family's unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge is a powerful private-sector boost to this public policy, aiming to ensure millions of children get a substantial head start on their financial journey and fully leverage the potential of these new accounts.
