Editing Michael Dell (section)

==Business career==
[[File:PC's Limited Turbo PC (1984) signed by Michael Dell.jpg|thumb|A PC's Limited ''Turbo PC'' signed by Dell]]
[[File:Michael Dell at Oracle OpenWorld.JPG|thumb|Michael Dell lecturing at the Oracle OpenWorld, San Francisco, 2010]]
While a freshman pre-med student at the [[University of Texas]], Dell started an informal business putting together and selling upgrade kits for personal computers in Room 2713 of the [[Dobie Center]] residential building.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2008-03-15|title=Proud Products: Michael Dell|url=http://www.tasb.org/schools/proud_products/michael_dell.aspx|access-date=2020-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315223203/http://www.tasb.org/schools/proud_products/michael_dell.aspx|archive-date=March 15, 2008}}</ref><ref>Kirk Ladendorf. "Dell remembers his beginning while looking toward the future" ''Austin American-Statesman''. November 27, 2011, pp. E1, E2.</ref> He then applied for a vendor license to bid on contracts for the State of Texas, winning bids by not having the overhead of a computer store.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dell|first=Michael|author2=Catherine Fredman|title=Direct from Dell: Strategies that Revolutionized an Industry|url=https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell|url-access=registration|year=1999|publisher=HarperBusiness|isbn=0-88730-914-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell/page/9 9–10]}}</ref><ref>Larry Faulkner, President, University of Texas at Austin (2003). [http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf Michael Dell Remarks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040324192416/http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf |date=March 24, 2004 }}. dell.com</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/04/uts-famed-high-rise-dorm-where-dell-launched-to.html|title=UT's famed high-rise dorm where Dell launched to get $4 million makeover|last=Buchholz|first=Jan|date=2014-04-29|publisher=Statesman.com|access-date=2017-01-05|archive-date=June 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623170914/http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/04/uts-famed-high-rise-dorm-where-dell-launched-to.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 1984, Dell believed that the potential cost savings of a [[Direct selling|manufacturer selling PCs directly]] had enormous advantages over the conventional indirect retail channel.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Biase |first=Stephen A. Di |title=Applied Innovation: A Handbook |publisher=Premier Insights LLC |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-5054-1687-9 |location=Chicago, IL |pages=379 |language=en}}</ref> In January 1984, Dell registered his company as "PC's Limited". Dell's strategy was to sell directly to customers by manufacturing computers only after they were ordered.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carbaugh |first=Robert |title=Contemporary Economics: An Applications Approach\\\\ |publisher=Routledge |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-7656-4177-9 |edition=7th |location=Oxon |pages=92 |language=en}}</ref> Operating out of a [[condominium]], the business sold between $50,000 and $80,000 worth of PC upgrades, kits, and add-on components. In May, Dell incorporated the company as "Dell Computer Corporation" and relocated to a business center in North Austin. The company employed a few people as order takers, a few more to fill the orders, and, as Dell recalled, a manufacturing staff consisting of "three guys with screwdrivers sitting at six-foot tables". The venture's capitalization cost was $1,000.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dell|first=Michael|author2=Catherine Fredman|title=Direct from Dell: Strategies that Revolutionized an Industry|url=https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell|url-access=registration|year=1999|publisher=HarperBusiness|isbn=0-88730-914-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell/page/12 12–13]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-03-04-dell-doffs-ceo-role_x.htm|title=Dell founder passes torch to new CEO|date=March 4, 2004|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|access-date=January 6, 2010|first1=Michelle|last1=Kessler|archive-date=October 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016211915/http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-03-04-dell-doffs-ceo-role_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> During the formative years of Dell Computer, Dell was mentored by [[Morton Meyerson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=John |date=2022-02-18 |title=Morton Meyerson: A Business Legend Built in Fort Worth |url=https://fortworthinc.com/api/content/7e9a6cfe-8dc3-11ec-88aa-12f1225286c6/ |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Fort Worth Inc. |language=en-us}}</ref>

In 1992, aged 27, he became the youngest CEO of a company ranked in ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine's [[Fortune 500|list of the top 500 corporations]].<ref name=NatPressClub>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2000/000608.mdell.html|title=Michael Dell|work=National Press Club Summary|publisher=National Public Radio|access-date=April 16, 2010|date=June 8, 2008|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404081545/https://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2000/000608.mdell.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1996, Dell started selling computers over the Web, the same year his company launched its first [[Server (computing)|servers]]. By March 1997, Dell Inc. reported about $1 million in sales per day from dell.com.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dell eyes shipment milestone |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/dell-eyes-shipment-milestone/ |access-date=13 February 2024 |work=CNET |issue=2 January 2002 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dell|first=Michael|title=Direct from Dell: Strategies that Revolutionized an Industry|url=https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell|url-access=registration|author2=Catherine Fredman|year=1999|publisher=HarperBusiness|isbn=0-88730-914-3|page=xiv}}</ref> In the first quarter of 2001, Dell Inc. reached a world market share of 12.8 percent, surpassing [[Compaq]] to become the world's largest PC maker. The metric marked the first time the rankings had shifted over the previous seven years. The company's combined shipments of desktops, notebooks and servers grew 34.3 percent worldwide and 30.7 percent in the United States at a time when competitors' sales were shrinking.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kanellos|first=Michael|title=Dell beats Compaq for No. 1 ranking|url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-256143.html|publisher=CNET News|date=April 1, 2001|access-date=April 16, 2010|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026074225/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-256143.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 4, 2004, Dell stepped down as CEO, but stayed as chairman of Dell Inc.'s board, while [[Kevin Rollins]], then president and [[chief operating officer|COO]], became president and CEO. On January 31, 2007, Dell returned as CEO at the request of the board, succeeding Rollins.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/technology/01dell.html?ex=1327986000&en=51d4bc242b1c6e8f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss "Dell Chief Replaced by Founder"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104001933/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/technology/01dell.html?ex=1327986000&en=51d4bc242b1c6e8f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |date=November 4, 2016 }}, ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref>

In 2013, Michael Dell with the help of [[Silver Lake Partners]], Microsoft, and a consortium of lenders took Dell, Inc. private. The deal was reportedly worth $25 billion and faced difficulties during its execution. Notable resistance came from [[Carl Icahn]], but after several months he stepped aside. Michael Dell received a 75% stake in the company.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Guglielmo|first1=Connie|title=Dell Officially Goes Private: Inside the Nastiest Tech Buyout Ever|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2013/10/30/you-wont-have-michael-dell-to-kick-around-anymore/#7a52b1224fd2|website=Forbes|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-date=August 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805173514/https://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2013/10/30/you-wont-have-michael-dell-to-kick-around-anymore/#7a52b1224fd2|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 12, 2015, Dell Inc. announced its intent to acquire the enterprise software and storage company [[EMC Corporation]]. At $67 billion, it has been labeled the "highest-valued tech acquisition in history".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34505553|title=Dell agrees $67bn EMC takeover|date=2015-10-12|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-11|archive-date=July 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718213543/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34505553|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-12/dell-to-acquire-emc-for-67-billion-to-add-data-storage-devices|title=Dell to Buy EMC in Deal Worth About $67 Billion|date=2015-10-12|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2017-01-11|archive-date=January 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113085826/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-12/dell-to-acquire-emc-for-67-billion-to-add-data-storage-devices|url-status=live}}</ref> The acquisition was finalized September 7, 2016.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160907005946/en/Historic-Dell-EMC-Merger-Complete-Forms-World%E2%80%99s|title=Historic Dell and EMC Merger Complete; Forms World's Largest Privately-Controlled Tech Company {{!}} Business Wire|website=www.businesswire.com|date=September 7, 2016|access-date=2017-01-11|archive-date=November 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104142018/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160907005946/en/Historic-Dell-EMC-Merger-Complete-Forms-World%E2%80%99s|url-status=live}}</ref>