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 bullseye-covered face, “We’re coming after you, buddy.”
Yes, it’s very likely Jobs would get hit by the feigned outrage cancel culture crowd for that bullseye graphic today. And, oh, how we’d love to be able to hear his response.
So, wouldn’t you know it, 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: On August 27, 2012, Apple’s market value hit $635.57 billion or more than 32 times that of Dell’s current $19.61 billion.
• 33X: On August 28, 2012, Apple’s market value stood at $632.71 billion or more than 33 times that of Dell’s current $19.07 billion.
• 34X: On September 4, 2012, Apple’s market value stood at $627.28 billion or more than 34 times that of Dell’s current $18.44 billion.
• 35X: On September 14, 2012, Apple shares rose to $694.81 for a market value of $651.01 billion or more than 35 times that of Dell’s current $18.60 billion.
• 36X: On September 19, 2012, Apple shares rose to $702.98 for a market value of $659.81 billion or more than 35 times that of Dell’s current $18.16 billion.
• 37X and 38X: On October 3, 2012, Apple shares rose to $671.45 for a market value of $629.42 billion or more than 38 times that of Dell’s current $16.36 billion.
• 39X-42X: On October 30, 2013, soundly beaten, Dell took his ball and went home, taking the company private, ending Dell’s 25-year run as a publicly-traded company. On December 28, 2018, Dell took the company public again. In the interim, on August 2, 2018, Apple became the first $1 trillion publicly-traded company.
• 43X: On August 6, 2020, Apple shares rose to hit a market value of $1.948 trillion or more than 43 times that of Dell’s current $45.153 billion.
• 44X: On August 18, 2020, Apple shares rose to hit a market value of $1.978 trillion or more than 44.5 times that of Dell’s current $44.39 billion.
• 45X, 46X, and 47X: On August 21, 2020, Apple shares rose to hit a market value of $2.127 trillion or more than 47 times that of Dell’s current $44.79 billion.
• 48X – 62X: Today, December 7, 2021, Apple shares rose to hit a market value of $2.808 trillion (not a typo) or more than 62 times that of Dell’s current $45.208 billion.
Apple in their last 90-day quarter ended September 25, 2021 posted a September quarter revenue record of $83.4 billion or $38.192 billion more than the entirety of Dell’s worth. In just 90 days.
Apple currently has more than four times the total market value of Dell Technologies Inc. in cash on hand ($191 billion).
Hey, Mikey? Miiikkkkeeeyyy? Got any snappy retorts today?
That list just keeps getting longer and longer. I hope MD is around to see it hit 100x. Keep it rolling, MDN.
I just looked around at dell.com to see what Dell does these days. Basically the same things they did 20 years ago. Laptops, desktops, servers, monitors, accessories (keyboards, mice, etc.), and some business services. Dell mostly stood still while Apple exploded from just Macs to everything it does today.
And now Apple is doubling back around to clean up in the PC space like it could have / should have done in the late 80s. Apple silicon Macs (and maybe eventually the VR product) will push PCs further into a niche.
MDN: Michael Dell News – it’s not good!
Why does Michael Dell always look like he has severe constipation ?
Oldie, but goodie and a hearty chuckle early morning.
At the time, I remember my PC IT friends and two brothers parroting Dell saying Apple is going out of business. Also, USA TODAY front page of their business section several stories saying the same. How short sighted and ignorant some people are regarding technology.
Thanks, MDN it never gets old…
I get it…M Dell was one of the few people in the history of man to actually get both feet in his mouth and it’s taken a long time for them to be removed. I’ll guess he’s tried to turn back time to obliterate those (Apple shareholder) comments, but that’s a job for Gd…so, he lives on with the embarrassing wound.
As one able to see/hear of the Dell’s (Mike & wife) actions in the non-pc realm, it’s apparent what a fine addition to the community they are. Wheelbarrows and wheelbarrows of money for services in those need has been ongoing for decades…with a common focus being children’s health related.
He’s also done quite well as a business leader, obviously.
After the most recent school shootings and killings in Michigan, your awful comment regarding the feigned outrage cancel culture is reprehensible. I would like to think that, today, Steve Jobs would decide to not put a target over the picture of Dell. I really believe that is the type of person he was. You should apologize to the families of all of the students who’ve been killed while in school.