World’s tenth richest man tipped to buy Everton

In a major development for Everton Football Club, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, Michael Saul Dell, is reportedly backing a bid to take over the Premier League side.

The news, which broke on Friday evening, has created a buzz in the footballing world as the founder of Dell Technologies, with an estimated net worth of around £120 billion, supports the acquisition through his ‘family office.’

According to The Times, Dell’s MSD Partners is providing financial muscle to businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing in their effort to secure ownership of the Toffees. This move, if successful, would mark a significant shift for Everton, who finished 15th in the Premier League last season, narrowly avoiding relegation.

The report states:

“Michael Saul Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies who is worth about £120 billion, is using his ‘family office’ to support a takeover offer by businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing. Family offices are established by wealthy families to manage their finances and Dell’s MSD Partners is on board should (Farhad) Moshiri grant Bell and Downing a period of exclusivity to seal a deal.”

Dell’s involvement signals the potential for substantial investment in the club, echoing the financial transformations seen at other Premier League sides with wealthy owners, such as Manchester City. City, under the ownership of Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour, have dominated English football, winning the last four Premier League titles under manager Pep Guardiola.

Michael Dell’s entrepreneurial journey began in Houston in 1965. He attended the University of Texas in 1983 with the initial intention of becoming a doctor to fulfill his parents’ wishes.

However, by 1984, Dell had started his computer business with a modest investment of $1,000, selling $80,000 worth of computers by the end of his freshman year. At 19, he left college to focus on his burgeoning company, which went public in 1988. Although Dell stepped back as CEO in 2004, he continues to serve as the chairman of the board.

This isn’t Dell’s first foray into English football. In 2022, West Bromwich Albion secured a £20 million loan from MSD UK Holdings, Dell’s investment group, highlighting his interest in the sport.

For Everton fans, the prospect of new ownership underpinned by one of the world’s richest men brings hope for a brighter future.