Michael and Susan Dell announced a $750 million gift to the University of Texas at Austin on Tuesday. The donation will fund a new “AI-native” medical center, advanced research campus, scholarships, student housing, and supercomputing initiatives.
The gift brings the couple’s total contributions to UT Austin above $1 billion, making them the first donors in the university’s history to reach that milestone.
Michael and Susan Dell surpass $1 billion in giving to The University of Texas at Austin 🤘
Their latest investment builds on their legacy, launching the UT Dell Campus for Advanced Research and an AI-native UT Dell Medical Center, while expanding support for scholarships,… pic.twitter.com/6S54LZkH8D
— UT Austin (@UTAustin) April 21, 2026
The donation will establish the UT Dell Campus for Advanced Research in North Austin and the UT Dell Medical Center. It builds on the couple’s $50 million gift in 2013, which helped create Dell Medical School. The new facilities aim to integrate artificial intelligence into patient care and expand life sciences research.
“Obviously, that part didn’t work out, but I never stopped thinking about that,” Michael Dell said, per CNBC, referring to his early interest in becoming a doctor.
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has focused heavily on education and health in Austin for more than two decades. Previous support includes scholarships for students with financial need and expansion of the Dell Scholars program, which has achieved a 94% graduation rate for participants at UT Austin.
The couple’s latest commitment also includes funding for undergraduate scholarships, student housing, and enhancements to the Texas Advanced Computing Center.
University officials described the gift as a major step toward positioning UT Austin as a leader in AI-driven health care and research.
This announcement comes months after other large gifts to Texas higher education. In January 2026, Tench and Simone Coxe donated $100 million to support the university’s new medical center. The Dells’ total lifetime giving to UT Austin now exceeds $1 billion when combining all prior commitments.
Michael Dell founded Dell Technologies in 1984 while a student at UT Austin. He dropped out to build the company, but has maintained strong ties to the university. Susan Dell has been actively involved in the family’s philanthropic efforts through the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, which has committed billions globally since 1999, with a significant focus on education, health, and opportunity in Central Texas.
University leaders said the donation will help address growing health care needs in one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions while advancing research capabilities.
