How we got here

How we got here

In the four decades since our founding, Dell Technologies has transformed from a scrappy PC startup to the world’s most essential technology infrastructure company for the data era. Our customers continue to be our greatest inspiration as we work together to create and harness technology for a better world. We’re proud of our journey since 1984, but we’re just getting started. See key milestones below.

  1. 1984

    As a freshman at the University of Texas, Michael Dell founds PC's Limited with $1,000 and a game-changing vision for how technology should be designed, manufactured and sold. He leaves school at the end of his first year to devote all his time to growing the business.

  2. 1987

    The journey to become a global company begins as Dell opens its first international subsidiary in the United Kingdom, followed by 11 more international operations over the course of the next four years.

  3. 1988

    Dell raises $30 million in its initial public offering, bringing the market capitalization of the company to $85 million.

  4. 1992

    Dell debuts on the Fortune 500. Michael Dell is the youngest CEO on the list at age 27.

  5. 1995

    Dell expands worldwide operations in Europe, Asia, Japan and the Americas.

  6. 1996

    Sales on dell.com exceed $1 million per day and the company introduces custom “Premier Pages,” allowing customers to connect directly to service and support.

  7. 1998

    Dell solidifies Internet leadership with $12 million in sales per day and establishes web-based connections with its suppliers.

  8. 1999

    Michael Dell publishes his first book, Direct from Dell: Strategies that Revolutionized an Industry.

  9. 2001

    Dell becomes the No. 1 computer systems provider worldwide and reaches No. 1 in U.S. Intel-based server shipments.

  10. 2005

    Dell tops Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Company list.

  11. 2009

    Dell begins a major strategic transition beyond its traditional hardware strongholds with the purchase of Perot Systems. The company continues on to broaden its offerings and customer relevance through the acquisition of multiple storage, systems management, cloud, networking, security and software companies over the next few years.

  12. 2012

    In one of Michael Dell’s most daring business moves, the seeds of taking Dell private are sown, beginning a lengthy, high-stakes process.

  13. 2013

    Dell goes private. In the largest leveraged buyout in tech history, Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners buy Dell from the public market for $24.9 billion to focus on innovation and long-term investments.

  14. 2015

    Dell announces it has recovered 1.4 billion pounds of used electronics since 2007—making Dell the world’s No. 1 recycler of e-waste at the time.

  15. 2016

    With the acquisition of EMC and VMware on September 7, 2016, Dell Technologies becomes the largest technology infrastructure company on the planet.

  16. 2018

    Dell Technologies returns to the public markets when its Class C common stock begins trading on the NYSE.

  17. 2021

    Dell Technologies spins off VMware to create two standalone companies. Michael Dell publishes his second book, Play Nice But Win.

  18. 2022

    For the first time, Dell’s annual revenue hits $100 billion driven by record customer demand and disciplined execution. Newsweek names Dell Technologies the No. 1 Most Loved Workplace in America.

  19. 2023

    Dell completes a season of unprecedented innovation to build out the world’s broadest GenAI infrastructure portfolio to help lead the AI revolution.

  20. 2024

    Launch of the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, the industry’s first comprehensive AI solution to help enterprises quickly capitalize on AI investments.
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