Dell vs Xiaomi: Founders, CEOs and History
Dell was founded in 1984 by Michael S. Dell and is led by Michael S. Dell. Xiaomi was founded in 2010 by Lei Jun, Lin Bin and is led by Lei Jun.
Company facts
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.
Xiaomi
Lei Jun
Lei Jun founded Xiaomi in 2010 and is its chairman and CEO. He set the company's early strategy of selling well-specified phones online at low prices, built the MIUI user community, and later led Xiaomi's 2018 Hong Kong listing.
Lin Bin
Lin Bin co-founded Xiaomi in 2010 and served as its president, overseeing early phone development and supply-chain relationships. He handed the president role to others in 2019 and continued as vice chairman of the board.
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
Xiaomi
- Lei Jun2010–present
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Sets Xiaomi's product and ecosystem strategy and leads the EV business.
Source - Lin Bin2010–present
Co-founder and Vice Chairman
Co-founded Xiaomi with Lei Jun and served as president during its early growth before moving to the vice chairman role.
Source - Lu Weibing2022–present
President
Runs day-to-day operations of the group, having earlier led the Redmi brand and international business.
Source
Timeline: Dell and Xiaomi side by side
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.
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.
2010Xiaomi
Xiaomi Founded
Lei Jun and seven co-founders establish Xiaomi in Beijing and release the MIUI Android software.
2011Xiaomi
Mi 1 Launches
Xiaomi launches its first smartphone, sold online.
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.
2014Xiaomi
India Entry and $45B Valuation
Xiaomi enters India and raises funding at a reported $45B valuation.
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.
2018Xiaomi
Hong Kong IPO
Xiaomi lists on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under stock code 1810 with a weighted voting rights structure.
2021Dell
VMware Spin-Off
Dell completes the VMware spin-off, simplifying the corporate structure and reducing debt.
2021Xiaomi
EV Entry Announced
Xiaomi announces it will build electric vehicles and sets up a dedicated EV subsidiary.
2021Xiaomi
Acquired DeepMotion
Xiaomi acquired DeepMotion for $77 million. Autonomous-driving technology company acquired to support Xiaomi's EV program.
2024Xiaomi
SU7 Launch
Xiaomi launches the SU7 electric sedan in March 2024 and begins deliveries.
2025Dell
PC Brands Simplified
Dell introduces simplified Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max PC brand tiers at CES 2025.
2025Xiaomi
Record Year and YU7 Launch
Xiaomi launches the YU7 SUV, delivers 411,082 vehicles, and reports FY2025 revenue of ~$63.6B (RMB457.3B).
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.
2026Xiaomi
Memory Costs Hit Profit
Q1 revenue falls 10.9% to ~$13.8B (RMB99.1B) and Q2 revenue falls 6.1% to ~$15.1B (RMB108.9B) as memory-chip costs squeeze margins.
Acquisitions
Dell
- EMC Corporation2016$67B
- Quest Software2012$2.4B
- Perot Systems2009$3.9B
- Alienware2006Undisclosed
Questions about Dell vs Xiaomi
Who is the CEO of Dell Technologies Inc. and Xiaomi Corp.?
Dell Technologies Inc. is led by Michael S. Dell and Xiaomi Corp. is led by Lei Jun. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Dell Technologies Inc. founded vs Xiaomi Corp.?
Dell Technologies Inc. was founded in 1984 — 26 years before Xiaomi Corp., which was founded in 2010. Dell Technologies Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Xiaomi Corp..
How many employees does Dell Technologies Inc. have compared to Xiaomi Corp.?
Dell Technologies Inc. employs approximately 97,000 people, while Xiaomi Corp. employs approximately 56,531. Dell Technologies Inc. has the larger workforce at 97,000 employees, compared to Xiaomi Corp.'s 56,531. 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 Xiaomi Corp. headquartered?
Dell Technologies Inc. is headquartered in United States and Xiaomi Corp. is headquartered in China. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Dell Technologies Inc. and Xiaomi Corp.?
Dell Technologies Inc. was founded by Michael S. Dell. Xiaomi Corp. was founded by Lei Jun, Lin Bin.
Which company has a longer operating history — Dell Technologies Inc. or Xiaomi Corp.?
Dell Technologies Inc. has been operating for approximately 42 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Xiaomi Corp. has been in operation for around 16 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 Xiaomi overview