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Dalio, BlackRock Join Dell in Donations to Trump Accounts for Children

Dec 17, 2025 14:34:00 -0500 by Abby Schultz | #Wealth

Ray Dalio, billionaire and founder of Bridgewater Associates, and his wife Barbara said they will donate to the Trump accounts for children. (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)

Key Points

Gifts to Trump accounts—government savings accounts created by tax and spending legislation earlier this year—are gaining momentum among billionaires and corporate America.

On Wednesday, hedge fund founder Ray Dalio and his wife Barbara announced they will put $250 into the Trump accounts of about 300,000 children in their home state of Connecticut—a total of about $75 million. Their gift follows a $6.25 billion commitment by billionaire Michael Dell and his wife Susan to donate $250 to the Trump accounts of about 25 million children aged 10 and younger.

Also on Wednesday, BlackRock announced that it would offer to match the U.S. government’s contribution of $1,000 into these tax-deferred accounts for its eligible U.S. employees with children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and the end of 2028.

Charter Communication s, BNY, and others have also pledged to match the government’s contribution for their employees.

In a statement, BlackRock said that its commitment “will help employees and their families foster strong financial habits early, encourage long-term planning, and invest in the potential of the next generation.”

Similar to the Dells, the Dalios are targeting children who live in a zip code where the median family income is less than $150,000, according to a media release. The funds will be distributed from the couples’ foundation, Dalio Philanthropies, which they founded in 2003.

On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on philanthropists throughout the country to follow the Dalios’ lead in adopting a state and giving a boost to children’s savings through these new vehicles.

“We are inviting every philanthropist in every state across the country to partner with us in building generational wealth for America’s children through Trump accounts,” Bessent said, according to Fox Business.

The Dalios gift is consistent with the couples’ philanthropy, particularly Barbara’s focus on public schools, teachers, and youth-serving organizations in Connecticut.

“By providing children with savings accounts that compound over time, we are providing them with early insights into financial literacy and a path towards financial independence,” Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, said in a statement.

Parents and other family members can contribute up to $5,000 annually in Trump accounts for children under the age of 18. Gifts from philanthropists and state and local governments don’t count toward the annual cap. The $1,000 seed money from the federal government is also exempt.

Contributions from companies, such as those by Dell and BlackRock, do count toward that $5,000 cap, however. The first $2,500 given by a company to each employee, each year, is excluded from the employees income.

Also on Wednesday, Bessent revealed a revamped trumpaccounts.gov website offering details on how Trump accounts work and how to open them. Instructions for creating an account by filling out IRS Form 4547 were made available earlier this month, although the IRS still has to provide further details.

A big benefit of these accounts is the promise of gifts—essentially free money toward savings—from the government, philanthropists, and employers. But because these accounts become traditional IRAs—and are subject to penalties for early withdrawals—when a child turns 18, they may not be the best option for all families, experts say.

Write to Abby Schultz at abby.schultz@barrons.com