Why The Dells Wrote A $6.25 Billion Check To The Government
January 9, 2026
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31:40Now PlayingWhy The Dells Wrote A $6.25 Billion Check To The Government
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as posted by the channelThis week on the Beyond The Billions podcast, Forbes Deputy Editor Giacomo Tognini talks with Forbes senior writer and tax attorney Kelly Phillips Erb to dissect the staggering $6.25 billion gift from Michael and Susan Dell. This record-breaking contribution is headed for the newly created "Trump Accounts," a bold federal program Kelly describes as "retirement accounts for babies" that aims to jumpstart savings for the next generation. The conversation explores the unusual strategy behind the Dells bypassing their own well-known private foundation to fund a government initiative directly, potentially seeding accounts for 25 million children. Kelly draws on her unique background as a former IRS clerk to explain the complex tax implications and why this move is setting a massive, "out of the box" precedent for billionaire philanthropy.
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