Dell vs Morgan Stanley: Founders, CEOs and History
Dell was founded in 1984 by Michael S. Dell and is led by Michael S. Dell. Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley and is led by Ted Pick.
Company facts
Dell
- Founded
- 1984
- Headquarters
- Round Rock, Texas
- Current CEO
- Michael S. Dell
- Employees
- 97,000
Morgan Stanley
- Founded
- 1935
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States
- Current CEO
- Ted Pick
- Employees
- 83,000
Founders
Dell
Michael S. Dell
Dell Technologies possesses one of the most famous, foundational founding stories in the history of the personal computer revolution, rooted in an aggressive, direct-to-consumer arbitrage strategy executed entirely from a college dorm room.
Morgan Stanley
Henry S. Morgan
Henry S. Morgan co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 after the Glass-Steagall Act required J.P. Morgan & Co. to separate its securities business from commercial banking.
Harold Stanley
Harold Stanley (1885-1963) co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 alongside Henry S. Morgan. Following the passage of the Glass-Steagall Act, which forced banks to separate commercial and investment banking, Stanley left J.P. Morgan & Co.
CEOs and their tenures
Dell
- Michael S. Dell1984–present
Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
Michael Dell's bold, aggressive strategic maneuvers transformed the company from a successful consumer PC manufacturer into a global leader in complex enterprise data center infrastructure and advanced cloud computing.
Source - Kevin Rollins2004–2007
President and Chief Executive Officer
As CEO from 2004 to 2007, he oversaw a period of severe stagnation, losing the company's #1 PC market share position to HP, forcing Michael Dell to return and retake control.
Source - Jeff Clarke2017–present
Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer
As Vice Chairman and Co-COO, he is the primary operational architect of Dell's Infrastructure Solutions Group, transforming the company from a PC maker into a massive enterprise IT vendor.
Source - David Kennedy2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Legal Officer, he navigated the highly contentious 2013 leveraged buyout that took the company private, and the equally complex 2018 transaction that returned it to the public markets.
Source
Morgan Stanley
- James Gorman2010–2023
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gorman's tenure moved Morgan Stanley toward recurring fee revenue. He became executive chairman after stepping down as CEO and left the board at the end of 2024.
Source - Ted Pick2024–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under Pick, Morgan Stanley reported record 2025 net revenues of $70.6B and record Q2 2026 results.
Source
Timeline: Dell and Morgan Stanley side by side
1935Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley Founded
Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley officially launch the top investment bank following the historic Glass-Steagall split.
1984Dell
PC's Limited Founded
Michael Dell starts PC's Limited from his University of Texas dorm room using a direct-sales PC model.
1988Dell
Dell Goes Public
Dell Computer Corporation completes its initial public offering and scales internationally.
1996Morgan Stanley
Acquired Van Kampen American Capital
Morgan Stanley acquired Van Kampen American Capital in 1996.
1997Morgan Stanley
Merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co
Morgan Stanley merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co in February 1997.
2001Dell
Dell Becomes Largest PC Maker
Dell becomes the world's largest PC maker by market share, validating the direct model at global scale.
2007Dell
Michael Dell Returns as CEO
Michael Dell returned as chief executive in January 2007, replacing Kevin Rollins.
2008Morgan Stanley
Bank Holding Company Conversion
Facing total catastrophic collapse, the firm converts into a traditional bank holding company to survive the global financial crisis.
2009Morgan Stanley
The Smith Barney Acquisition
then-CEO James Gorman masterminds the acquisition of Smith Barney, instantly creating a dominant retail wealth management leader.
2013Dell
Dell Goes Private
Michael Dell and Silver Lake take Dell private in a leveraged buyout to reposition the company away from public-market pressure.
2016Dell
EMC Acquired
Dell completes the EMC acquisition, creating Dell Technologies and expanding into enterprise storage, infrastructure, and VMware-linked assets.
2018Dell
Dell Returns to Public Markets
Dell Technologies returns to public-market trading through a complex transaction involving its VMware tracking stock.
2018Morgan Stanley
Acquired Mesa West
Morgan Stanley acquired Mesa West in March 2018.
2020Morgan Stanley
E*TRADE Acquisition
Morgan Stanley dominates the self-directed brokerage market by acquiring E*TRADE for $13 billion.
2021Dell
VMware Spin-Off
Dell completes the VMware spin-off, simplifying the corporate structure and reducing debt.
2021Morgan Stanley
Acquired Eaton Vance
Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for $7 billion. Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for about $7B, completed in March 2021, adding Parametric, Calvert, and Atlanta Capital.
2024Morgan Stanley
Ted Pick Appointed CEO
Following a competitive internal succession, Ted Pick takes the helm to heavily drive the integration strategy.
2025Dell
PC Brands Simplified
Dell introduces simplified Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max PC brand tiers at CES 2025.
2026Dell
Record $113.5B Fiscal Year
Dell reports record fiscal 2026 revenue of $113.5B, $64.1B of AI server orders and a $43B AI backlog.
2026Dell
$95B AI Server Backlog
Q2 fiscal 2027 revenue rises 58% to $47.0B; AI orders hit $60.9B and backlog reaches $95B; full-year guidance raised to about $192B.
Acquisitions
Dell
- EMC Corporation2016$67B
- Quest Software2012$2.4B
- Perot Systems2009$3.9B
- Alienware2006Undisclosed
Morgan Stanley
- Eaton Vance2021$7B
- E*TRADE2020$13B
- Smith Barney2009Undisclosed
Questions about Dell vs Morgan Stanley
Who is the CEO of Dell Technologies Inc. and Morgan Stanley?
Dell Technologies Inc. is led by Michael S. Dell and Morgan Stanley is led by Ted Pick. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Dell Technologies Inc. founded vs Morgan Stanley?
Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 — 49 years before Dell Technologies Inc., which was founded in 1984. Morgan Stanley's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Dell Technologies Inc..
How many employees does Dell Technologies Inc. have compared to Morgan Stanley?
Dell Technologies Inc. employs approximately 97,000 people, while Morgan Stanley employs approximately 83,000. Dell Technologies Inc. has the larger workforce at 97,000 employees, compared to Morgan Stanley's 83,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Dell Technologies Inc. and Morgan Stanley headquartered?
Both Dell Technologies Inc. and Morgan Stanley are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Dell Technologies Inc. and Morgan Stanley?
Dell Technologies Inc. was founded by Michael S. Dell. Morgan Stanley was founded by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley.
Which company has a longer operating history — Dell Technologies Inc. or Morgan Stanley?
Morgan Stanley has been operating for approximately 91 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Dell Technologies Inc. has been in operation for around 42 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Dell vs Morgan Stanley overview