Michael Dell passes Bezos as world's third-richest person
Michael Dell passes Bezos to become the world's third-richest person for the first time, Forbes' real-time ranking shows. Dell's net worth hit $267.7 billion after Dell Technologies shares closed at a record, while Bezos fell to $265.2 billion as Amazon declined.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Dell's fortune reached $267.7 billion, briefly ahead of Jeff Bezos at $265.2 billion.
- Dell Technologies shares rose 1.9% to a record close of $533.88, lifting Dell's wealth by $4.6 billion in one day.
- Dell now ranks behind only Elon Musk ($942 billion) and Larry Page ($277.9 billion).
- Dell stock is up about 327% year to date on soaring demand for AI computing infrastructure.
- Dell owns roughly 40% of Dell Technologies and holds much of his wealth via DFO Management.
The reshuffle at the top of the global wealth table is a milestone for the Dell Technologies founder and a snapshot of how AI hardware demand is rewriting net worth and wealth rankings in 2026.
Why did Michael Dell pass Bezos now?
According to Forbes, Dell added $4.6 billion on Tuesday as Dell Technologies rose 1.9% to a record closing high of $533.88. Bezos lost about $1.4 billion the same day as Amazon shares slipped 0.6%, dropping his estimated fortune to $265.2 billion.
The gap is narrow—about $2.5 billion—so the third- and fourth-place spots can flip with daily stock moves. Still, it is the first time Dell has held the No. 3 position on Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires list.
How much has Dell's fortune grown in 2026?
Dell began 2026 with an estimated fortune of about $141 billion and ranked 13th globally. His wealth has since climbed by roughly $126.7 billion, or nearly 90%, and has more than doubled versus last year as AI infrastructure demand accelerated.
Dell Technologies shares have soared about 327% since the start of the year. The company reported $47 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 58% year over year, and raised full-year revenue guidance to $192 billion after a record AI server order book.
Who ranks above Michael Dell—and who did he pass?
Only Tesla CEO Elon Musk, at about $942 billion, and Alphabet co-founder Larry Page, at about $277.9 billion, still outrank Dell. In recent months Dell also moved past Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Oracle's Larry Ellison before overtaking Bezos.
Dell, 61, founded his PC business in 1984 at age 19 with $1,000 while at the University of Texas at Austin. He owns about 40% of Dell Technologies; much of his fortune also sits in private investment firm DFO Management.