Susan Dell is sixty-two years old, which is a significant age if you have been following philanthropic news in the past year. Born in Dallas, Texas, to Zelig Zeck Lieberman and Marilyn Ely Lieberman, she was raised in a home influenced by Jewish principles, such as purpose, community service, and charitable giving. She appears to have carried those early lessons into every decade of her life.
Susan Lieberman was an athlete before she rose to prominence as one of America’s most significant philanthropists. A serious one. At Arizona State University, where she studied fashion merchandising and design, she participated in marathons, triathlons, and cycling events and won championships. The combination of the creative instincts of a designer and the mental discipline of endurance sports is noteworthy. You wouldn’t normally expect someone who would eventually oversee billions of dollars in charitable commitments to have such a background. However, that combination of long-term patience and design thinking makes more sense when considering the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation’s operations over the years.
Susan Dell — Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Susan Lynn Lieberman Dell |
| Age | 62 years old |
| Year of Birth | 1963 |
| Birthplace | Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Education | Arizona State University – Fashion Merchandising & Design |
| Height | 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 59 kg |
| Spouse | Michael Dell |
| Year Married | 1989 |
| Children | Alexa, Juliette, Kira, Zachary |
| Profession | Philanthropist, Entrepreneur |
| Fashion Label | Phi |
| Father | Zelig Zeck Lieberman |
| Mother | Marilyn Ely Lieberman |
| Brothers | Steve Lieberman, Randy Lieberman |
| Athletic Background | Marathons, Triathlons, Cycling |
| Foundation | Michael & Susan Dell Foundation |
| Foundation Established | 1999 |
| Total Giving (Foundation) | Over $2.9 billion |
| Notable 2025 Pledge | $6.25 billion for children’s savings accounts |
| Notable 2026 Pledge | $750 million to UT Austin Medical Center |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$2.5 billion |
In the late 1980s, she met Michael Dell in Austin. Alexa, Juliette, Kira, and Zachary are their four children together. They were married in 1989. Susan has served as chair of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, which the couple co-founded in 1999. The foundation has allocated approximately $2.9 billion over the course of more than 20 years to programs in South Africa, India, and the United States related to education, pediatric health, and economic stability.
Giving like that doesn’t go unnoticed. The foundation contributed $50 million to the founding of the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, funded Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, and committed $100 million to assist low-income students in finishing their degrees. The Dells promised UT Austin an additional $750 million for a new medical facility in 2026. Every one of these choices reflects a long-term, consistent vision—not the kind of giving that seeks a plaque, but the kind that seeks quantifiable results decades from now.
When Susan and Michael Dell announced a $6.25 billion pledge linked to savings accounts for newborn American children in December 2025, it was the foundation’s most talked-about event. The announcement attracted a lot of attention, partly due to its philanthropic scope and, to be honest, partly due to pictures taken at a White House function where Susan looked remarkably young for a woman in her early sixties. The internet did what it usually does. Although Susan has not publicly acknowledged any cosmetic procedures, rumors about them have been circulating. It’s worth taking a moment to consider this: something about our priorities is revealed when a woman declares a multibillion-dollar commitment to children’s futures and the conversation almost instantly turns to her face.
Her story stands alone away from the cacophony. Drawing on her experience in design and a sincere interest in the field, she founded the fashion label Phi, which is a true creative endeavor rather than a vanity project. Before they were married in 1989, she helped her husband convert to Judaism. In addition to financial support, her foundation’s work on pediatric health and educational access has involved years of consistent collaboration with local groups and academic institutions across three nations.
Apart from Michael Dell’s far greater wealth, her estimated net worth is $2.5 billion. The fashion brand, real estate investments, and sustained participation in family businesses are the sources of this wealth. Coverage frequently blurs the line between her husband’s and her own financial situation, which may be a reflection of how easily the public dismantles the identities of women who are married to billionaires.
Even though the public doesn’t always see it there, 62-year-old Susan Dell has created something that exists well outside of her husband’s shadow. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of her age is just what she has decided to do with each passing year.
