On October 6, 1997, in response to the question of what he’d do if he was in charge of Apple, Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell stood before a crowd of several thousand IT executives and answered flippantly, “What would I do? I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”
A little more than a month later, on November 10, 1997, new Apple Interim CEO (iCEO) Steve Jobs responded, speaking in front of an image of Michael Dell’s bulls-eye covered face, “We’re coming after you, you’re in our sights.”
On January 13, 2006, after a little more than eight years of hard work, Apple Inc. passed Dell, Inc. in market value, $72.13 billion vs. $71.97 billion at market close, respectively.
• 2X: On July 27, 2007, Apple’s value doubled that of Dell’s, $127.81 billion vs. $63.65 billion, respectively.
• 3X: On December 6, 2007, Apple’s market value passed 3 times that of Dell’s, $165.66 billion vs. $54.42 billion, respectively.
• 4X: On May 01, 2008, Apple’s market value quadrupled that of Dell’s, $158.66 billion vs. $38.97 billion, respectively.
• 5X: On February 12, 2009, Apple rose $2.60 to hit a market value of $88.37 billion or 5 times that of Dell’s $17.52 billion.
• 6X: On October 20, 2009, Apple rose $11.21 to $201.07 to hit a market value of $180.12 billion or more than 6 times that of Dell’s $29.97 billion.
• 7X: On January 26, 2010, Apple gained $7.57 to $210.64 to hit a market value of $189.72 billion or more than 7 times that of Dell’s$27.03 billion.
• 8X: On May 21, 2010, Apple gained $1.95 to $239.74 to hit a market value of $218.12 billion or more than 8 times that of Dell’s $25.84 billion.
• 9X: On June 1, 2010, Apple gained $6.89 to $263.77 to hit a market value of $240.01 billion or more than 9 times that of Dell’s $26.29 billion.
• 10X: On September 9, 2010, Apple gained $1.60 to $265.37 to hit a market value of $242.43 billion or more than 10 times that of Dell’s $24.21 billion.
• 11X: On September 23, 2010, Apple rose $3.79, or 1.32%, to $291.54 to hit a market value of $266.34 billion or more than 11 times that of Dell’s $23.81 billion.
• 12X: On January 27, 2011, Apple rose $0.26, or 0.08%, to $344.11 to hit a market value of $317.02 billion or more than 12 times that of Dell’s $26.02 billion.
• 13X: On August 26, 2011, Apple rose $9.86, or 2.64%, to $383.58 to hit a market value of $355.61 billion or more than 13 times that of Dell’s $27.29 billion.
• 14X: On September 20, 2011, Apple rose $1.82, or 0.44%, to $413.45 to hit a market value of $383.31 billion or more than 14 times that of Dell’s $27.15 billion.
• 15X: On February 15, 2012, Apple rose $14.03, or 2.75%, to $523.49 to hit a market value of $486.78 billion or more than 15 times that of Dell’s $32.37 billion.
• 16X: On february 29, 2012, Apple rose $8.43, or 1.575%, to $543.84 to hit a market value of $505.75 billion or more than 16 times that of Dell’s $31.35 billion.
• 17X: On March 12, 2012, Apple rose $3.27, or 0.60%, to $548.44 to hit a market value of $512.33 billion or more than 17 times that of Dell’s $29.94 billion.
• 18X: On March 19, 2012, Apple rose $9.94, or 1.70%, to $595.51 to hit a market value of $553.29 billion or more than 18 times that of Dell’s $30.61 billion.
• 19X: On March 26, 2012, Apple rose $10.93, or 1.83%, to $606.98 to hit a market value of $565.93 billion or more than 19 times that of Dell’s $29.43 billion.
• 20X: On April 3, 2012, Apple rose $10.49, or 1.70%, to $629.12 to hit a market value of $585.93 billion or more than 20 times that of Dell’s $29.21 billion.
• 21X, 22X: On, May 23, 2012, Apple’s market value stood at $520.40 billion or more than 22 times that of Dell’s $22.90 billion.
• 23X: Also on May 23, 2012, Apple’s market value stood at $520.45 billion or more than 23 times that of Dell’s $22.15 billion after Dell shed over 16% following another poor earnings report coupled with weak guidance.
• 24X: And again on May 23, 2012, Apple’s market value was $524.00 billion or more than 24 times that of Dell’s $21.83 billion after Dell shed over 18% following another poor earnings report coupled with weak guidance.
• 25X: On June 4, 2012, Apple’s market value hit $527.65 billion or more than 25 times that of Dell’s $20.99 billion.
• 26X: On June 19, 2012, Apple’s market value hit $550.43 billion or more than 26 times that of Dell’s $21.15 billion.
• 27X: On July 23, 2012, Apple’s market value hit $564.62 billion or more than 27 times that of Dell’s $20.64 billion.
• 28X: On August 2, 2012, Apple’s market value hit $569.75 billion or more than 28 times that of Dell’s $20.06 billion.
• 29X and 30X: On August 22, 2012, Apple’s market value hit $610.02 billion or more than 30 times that of Dell’s $20.29 billion.
• 31X: On August 23, 2012, Apple’s market value hit $621.15 billion or more than 31 times that of Dell’s current $19.66 billion.
• 32X: Today, August 27, 2012, Apple’s market value hit $635.57 billion or more than 32 times that of Dell’s current $19.61 billion.
Apple is also a debt-free company and currently has more than six times Dell Inc.’s total worth in cash.
Hello, Mikey? Miiikkkkeeeyyy? Got any snappy retorts now?
See AAPL and DELL quotes via NASDAQ here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “RobG” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Apple now worth 31 times Dell’s market value – August 23, 2012
Apple now worth 30 times Dell’s market value – August 22, 2012
Apple now worth 28 times Dell’s market value – August 2, 2012
Apple now worth 27 times Dell’s market value – July 23, 2012
Apple now worth 26 times Dell’s market value – June 19, 2012
Apple now worth 25 times Dell’s market value – June 4, 2012
Apple now worth 24 times Dell’s market value – May 23, 2012
Apple now worth 23 times Dell’s market value – May 23, 2012
Apple now worth 22 times Dell’s market value – May 23, 2012
Apple now worth twenty times Dell’s market value – April 3, 2012
Apple now worth nineteen times Dell’s market value – March 26, 2012
Apple now worth eighteen times Dell’s market value – March 19, 2012
Apple now worth seventeen times Dell’s market value – March 12, 2012
Apple now worth sixeen times Dell’s market value – February 29, 2012
Apple now worth fifteen times Dell’s market value – February 15, 2012
Apple now worth fourteen times Dell’s market value – September 20, 2011
Apple now worth thirteen times Dell’s market value – August 26, 2011
Apple now worth twelve times Dell’s market value – January 27, 2011
Apple now worth eleven times Dell’s market value – September 23, 2010
Apple now worth ten times Dell’s market value – September 09, 2010
Apple now worth nine times Dell’s market value – June 01, 2010
Apple now worth eight times Dell’s market value – May 21, 2010
Apple now worth seven times Dell’s market value – January 26, 2010
Apple now worth sextuple Dell’s market value – October 20, 2009
Apple now worth quintuple Dell’s market value – February 12, 2009
Apple could buy Dell outright; Mac-maker has more cash on hand than Dell is worth – October 21, 2008
Apple now worth quadruple Dell’s market value – May 01, 2008
Apple now worth triple Dell’s market value – December 06, 2007
Apple now worth double Dell’s market value – July 27, 2007
Beleaguered Dell: Shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders – March 02, 2007
Biting words on Apple come back to haunt Dell – February 10, 2007
Steve Jobs emails Apple team: Michael Dell not the best prognosticator, Apple worth more than Dell – January 16, 2006
Apple now worth more than Dell – January 13, 2006
lol – never gets old.
For all of those who feel that this bit of refreshment is old and stale, may I say two things: 1) You must never have used a Dell product, and 2) it never get old – ever.
Cheers.
Bingo!
50? Do I hear 50?
Wake me when it gets to 100X, sometime next month.
I used a Dell once, when I was a poor student. The ‘love affair’ lasted all of one week before I returned it as unusable. The keyboard sucked – the keys had no feel to them and felt plasticky underhand. The trackpad truly sucked – the mouse trailed your finger movements by quite a degree. The whole construction was made of flimsy plastic. I never saw this much plastic before, outside a Korean made car.
Definitely never gets old…The sweet, sweet taste of schadenfreude, lol.
Why do you compare Apple with Dell. All Dell ever did is sell computers and not anything much else that Apple has created. Find a better comparison.
Obviously, you are new here. If not, you must be off of your meds. It isn’t about comparison… it’s about an arrogant wanker named Michael Dell.
Does that help?
(feeling a bit snarky today) 🙂
It may be time to drop this… Apple has so far exceeded not only the value of Dell but the thinking of Dell, that we diminish ourselves by even talking about a company that is just not relevant anymore.
Being an Austin resident, Michael and his family are to be complimented for their investments in the community. From the Dell Children’s Center (an amazing hospital) to school investments to theatres, Dell himself and fellow executives have done a lot to reinvest their earlier success in our town. He made a dumb comment, but he is a good guy.
Having been at Apple when he made this comment, I’m glad to see he was proven completely wrong… 32x wrong, but it may be time to just move on… 🙂
See comment to Martin below…
If you check out my personal blog, you will see I’m a big Apple fan boy. I was there from 1987-1997 and 2003-2006.
I regret that the substance of my comment did not resonate with you.
Relax, it isn’t totally about Michael Dell, it’s actually a fun numbers game. Where I used to work, a Dell lasted two years, a Mac five years. 2 to the fifth power = 32. See?
Can’t wait for 42
Yes, it is fun… Just offering another perspective… 🙂
42?
Now THAT sounds like a fun a number to shoot for.
I’ve got my towel ready.
MDN will keep posting this story as long as you keep clicking on it.
It’s all about hits. (and advertising)
BTW – When you post a comment, that’s two clicks.
It must be rather humiliating to see this multiple happen five times in one month. Michael Dell probably doesn’t care because he’s already rich beyond reason. It might hurt his pride a bit if he’s paying attention to such things.
Still, I’d rather see Apple rising faster than Dell is sinking. If Apple flatlined and Dell continues sinking, the effect will be the same but won’t put any more money into my pocket.
I am as big an Apple fan as anyone, but repeating this story over and over again is juvenile, not to mention a lazy way to fill content space.
Then don’t click… save your limited bandwidth…
I may have limited bandwidth, but at least my problem is technical, not intellectual. : )
Martin
You think anything about your post is “intellectual”?
Interesting.
It is old and tired, but as you can tell from most of the responses, this juvenile type of filler is eaten up by the majority of people here. And yes, I am an Apple user.
Apple is now so huge that the Dell as a unit of wealth is now too small to be of practical use.
It reminds me stories of hyper-inflation, where people needed cartloads of banknotes to pay for simple purchases.
You mean it’s now a “rounding error?” 🙂
When it hits 100, SELL!
Why would I sell my AAPL when DELL plummets? Those who own DELL should have sold their stock long ago.
It’s a shame the Dell Ditty didn’t take off because by now we’d have the Ditty Phone and the Ditty Pad Pro. Mike is now close to worthless all because he didn’t follow up on the best idea he ever had. What a plonker
SIDAGTMBTTS!
I had a Dell once. It ran Windows Me. Double the trouble.
It was a plastic wonder. Hot, heavy, very poorly designed and constantly infested with malware.
I owned it for 2 years and spent more on fighting malware than I did on the ordinary software and hardware.
What a nightmare.
I really like those postings. I remember when it was only 10 times. By the way: Dell makes fairly nice 30 inch displays, they work great with my new MacPro. Too sad Apple gave up 30 inch displays, but 27 inch is just too small for a MacPro. FCP X looks better on 30 inch. Size does matter.
I thought it would have happened sooner but, you know, the weekend.
BTW, what was Dell worth compared to Apple on October 6, 1997?
That photo is so subtly perfect. Too funny!