Michael Dell Enters Top 10 Richest as Broadcom Surge Boosts Net Worth

Michael Dell, founder, chairman, and CEO of Dell Technologies, saw his net worth soar by $14 billion between Friday and Monday, elevating him into the ranks of the world’s 10 richest individuals for the first time. His fortune reached $120.3 billion on Monday, up from $106.3 billion on Thursday and $115.4 billion on Friday.

This surge placed Dell at No. 10 on the billionaire rankings, surpassing prominent figures such as fashion tycoon Amancio Ortega ($119.4 billion), Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang ($114.4 billion), and Walmart heirs Rob and Jim Walton ($113.7 billion and $112.4 billion, respectively). Dell’s valuation also exceeded Bill Gates’ net worth of $107 billion.

The dramatic rise in Dell’s wealth follows a substantial increase in Broadcom’s stock value. On Friday, Broadcom shares climbed 24%, briefly propelling its market capitalization beyond $1 trillion for the first time. The stock continued its ascent on Monday with a 10% increase, fueled by reports of a 51% year-over-year revenue boost in the fourth quarter.

Dell’s financial windfall stems from his stake in Broadcom, owning an estimated 210 million shares acquired last year during Broadcom’s $69 billion acquisition of VMware. Dell, who held a 39% stake in VMware, received an estimated $33 billion in cash and Broadcom stock as part of the transaction. Approximately half of his VMware shares were converted into Broadcom shares, with the remainder paid out in cash.

Broadcom, a technology firm specializing in semiconductors and infrastructure software, reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday. It revealed a 220% increase in artificial intelligence-related revenue for the year, amounting to $12.2 billion. Broadcom’s networking chips, used in AI, cloud computing, and smartphones, are positioned to benefit from the anticipated boom in AI chip demand.

Michael Dell’s financial journey began with the founding of Dell Technologies as a personal computer sales venture in 1984. By 1992, he became the youngest CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Dell Technologies grew to become the world’s largest PC maker, merging with EMC Corporation in 2016 to expand its operations. Over the years, Dell took the company public in 1988, privatized it in 2013, and re-listed it through a complex restructuring in 2018. VMware later spun off from Dell in 2021.

Much of Dell’s fortune also stems from his private investment firm, DFO Management, which holds stakes in various industries. The firm owns the Four Seasons Maui, has indirect investments in brands like Applebee’s, IHOP, and Calvin Klein, and reportedly has ties to New York’s Grand Central Station.

With Broadcom’s continued growth and AI advancements on the horizon, Dell’s position among the world’s wealthiest appears firmly cemented.

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