Michael S. Dell

Michael S. Dell is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the computer company Dell Inc. (web), which he founded in 1984.

In 2000, Dell was described as "a friend and contributor to Republican Texas Gov. George W. Bush." During his 2000 presidential campaign, Bush had "a 440-member technology advisory council ... led by Michael Dell." 

Dell contributed to both Bush's 2000 and 2004 political campaigns. For the 2004 campaign, Dell supported Bush publicly by "lending his name to the campaign in several published letters and editorials." Dell also donated $250,000 to Bush's second "inaugural festivities". 

In 2003, under proposed Bush administration tax cuts, Dell was projected to "reap $6 million [in one year] if the plan [was] enacted." 

Aspartame
"In March 2000, Monsanto merged with two other companies to form the Pharmacia Corporation. The NutraSweet Company (web) was divided and sold. The company's tabletop sweetener division, comprised of the Equal and Canderel brands, was purchased by Tabletop Holdings, an investment group formed by Pegasus Capital Advisors, computer mogul Michael Dell's MSD Capital (web), and Brener International." On March 20, 2000, the "new company was formally launched under the name Merisant (web)."  In 2002, Monsanto was spun off to become a separate company.


 * See Merisant products.

In August 2006, the product was "owned by four companies", Ajinomoto (web), "Merisant (a bunch of Monsanto managers)", J.W. Childs Associates, L.P. (web) of Boston, and MSD Captial, Dell's investment company. 

Also see processed food industry.

Profiles
"In 1992, Mr. Dell became the youngest CEO ever to earn a ranking on the Fortune 500." 

"Dell is the author of Direct From Dell: Strategies That Revolutionized an Industry, his story of the rise of the company and the strategies he has refined that apply to all businesses." 

In 1998, Dell "formed MSD Capital, and in 1999, he and his wife formed the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, to manage the investments and philanthropic efforts, respectively, of the Dell family." 

Dell "serves on the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, the executive committee of the International Business Council and is a member of the U.S. Business Council." Dell also serves on George W. Bush's President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the "governing board of the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, India." 

Contact Information
Website: http://www.msdcapital.com/

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Donald Rumsfeld (Searle/Monsanto connection)

Profiles

 * Profile: Michael Dell, MSD Capital, L.P.
 * Profile: Michael Dell, Corporate Swine, Inc..
 * Political Donations Hall of Fame: Billionaires: Michael Dell, Dell Computer founder, chairman, NewsMeat; Michael Dell, Fundrace 2004 Neighbor Search.
 * Profile: Windfalls of War: Dell Marketing L.P., Center for Public Integrity.
 * "Bush Contributors Exposed," KnowtheCandidates.org.
 * Profile: Merisant Worldwide, Inc., FundingUniverse.com.
 * Live Webcast: Michael Dell, NPR, June 8, 2000.
 * Donor Profile: Michael S. Dell (with Susan), MotherJones, March 5, 2001.

1999

 * "Industry Bigwigs Will Advise Bush," Newsbytes PM (FindArticles.com), July 7, 1999.

2000

 * Brett Chase, "NutraSweet sold to investors," Chicago Sun-Times (FindArticles.com), February 4, 2000.
 * Scott Kilman, "Monsanto to sell equal to grp led by Michael Dell," Wall Street Journal (kitchenconfessional.com), February 6, 2000.
 * "Sweet deal for Dell," Austin Business Journal, February 11, 2000.
 * "Why is Michael Dell cashing out? The PC wunderkind is on a selling spree -- $2.5 billion worth of his company stock in less than two years," Salon, August 31, 2000.
 * "The Bush Bunch," CIO, October 15, 2000.
 * Kevin Anderson, "High-tech 'not high priority for Bush'," BBC News, December 16, 2000.

2001

 * Declan McCullagh, "Bush Says Hi to Tech Leaders," Wired, January 4, 2001.

2002

 * Rebecca Ephraim, "Aspartame: Diet-astrous Results," The Weston A. Price Foundation, posted May 26, 2002.

2003

 * Patrick Martin, "Bush tax cut provides billions for the wealthy," WSWS.org, February 15, 2003.
 * Betty Martini, "EU Calls For New Investigation Of Aspartame And Stevia," Mission Possible International (naturodoc.com), April 12, 2003.

2004

 * Joanna Glassner, "Tech Execs Lean Right," Wired, May 13, 2004.
 * "Michael Dell chips in $250,000 for Bush's inaugural festivities," Austin Business Journal, December 21, 2004.

2005

 * Bob Geiger, "The Case For Boycotting Republican-Funding Dell," BobGeiger Blogspot, July 26, 2005.
 * Daniel Gross, "Is Dell Dying? What's wrong with America's greatest computer company," Slate, August 30, 2005.

2006

 * "Dell launches free e-waste recycling program covering all Dell computers," NewsTarget, June 29, 2006.
 * "Coke, Pepsi banned in India over harmful levels of aspartame, pesticides and other chemicals," NewsTarget, August 7, 2006.
 * "Bans in India of Coke and Pepsi due to pesticide and aspartame ingredients," Indybay, August 10, 2006.
 * "Bush and Dell Computers," YouTube, November 8, 2006.

2007

 * "Bill banning use of Aspartame submitted to Legislature," New Mexico Business Weekly, January 26, 2007.
 * Robert McMillan, "Michael Dell Back in Charge as Rollins Departs Dell," IDG News Service (CIO), February 1, 2007.
 * Stephen Foley, "Dell hit by $1bn lawsuit over alleged kickbacks," The Independent (UK), February 3, 2007.
 * Chris in Paris, "Dell slapped with lawsuit over $1 Billion in kickbacks," AMERICAblog, February 3, 2007.