Michael Dell has overtaken Jeff Bezos to become the world’s third-richest person as a surge in Dell Technologies shares pushes the computer company founder’s fortune to $267.7 billion.
Dell added $4.6 billion to his wealth on Tuesday after Dell Technologies shares rose 1.9% to a record closing price of $533.88, according to Forbes.
His fortune now trails only Google co-founder Larry Page, who is worth an estimated $277.9 billion, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose fortune stands at $942 billion.
Bezos, meanwhile, dropped to fourth place after his estimated wealth fell by $1.4 billion to $265.2 billion as Amazon shares declined 0.6%.
The latest jump marks a dramatic change in Dell’s position among the world’s wealthiest people. He began 2026 with an estimated fortune of $141 billion and ranked 13th globally. His wealth has since increased by about $126.7 billion, or nearly 90%.
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Much of Dell’s fortune is held through his private investment firm, DFO Management, which has investments in areas including hotels and corporate credit. But his stake in Dell Technologies has been the biggest source of his recent wealth gains.
Dell owns about 40% of the company, whose shares have surged roughly 327% since the beginning of the year. The rally has been closely tied to rising demand for computing infrastructure used to develop and operate artificial intelligence systems.
The gains have rapidly reshaped the technology billionaire rankings. Dell has already moved past Meta co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison in recent months before overtaking Bezos.
Dell, 61, started his computer business in 1984 at the age of 19 while studying at the University of Texas at Austin. He began with $1,000 and eventually left college to focus on building the company.
What started as a dorm-room business went on to become Dell Technologies, one of the world’s largest technology companies.
Dell recently reflected on the decision that set his business career in motion, sharing a 1984 quarterly earnings report on X that he said helped convince his parents to let him leave college.
“This one page changed my life. 42 years ago today, it convinced my parents I shouldn’t go back to college,” he wrote on July 31. “You never know which small decision will change everything. Keep building.”
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Dell’s fortune has more than doubled since last year as investors have continued to pour money into companies positioned to benefit from the artificial intelligence boom.
Dell Technologies shares also climbed as high as $538.47 during Tuesday’s trading session before settling at $533.88 at the close.
The rise puts Dell in the world’s top three richest people for the first time, capping one of the biggest jumps in the billionaire rankings this year.
As of September 2026, Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person with an estimated net worth of about $942 billion, according to Forbes. He is followed by Google co-founder Larry Page, whose fortune stands at approximately $277.9 billion. Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell ranks third with around $267.7 billion, while Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is fourth with an estimated $265.2 billion. The rankings reflect the latest fluctuations in billionaire fortunes tied largely to changes in company valuations and stock prices.