Just 27 in 1992, he’s still the youngest-ever C.E.O. of a company when it entered the Fortune 500

The Final Jeopardy clue for Monday, May 12, 2025, fell under the category Texas Technology: “Just 27 in 1992, he’s still the youngest-ever C.E.O. of a company when it entered the Fortune 500.”

Who is Michael Dell?

This clue pointed to one of the most iconic figures in the American tech industry. Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computer Corporation, achieved a historic milestone in 1992 when, at just 27 years old, he became the youngest CEO to lead a company ranked in the Fortune 500. His inclusion in the clue highlighted not only his personal accomplishment but also the rapid rise of his Texas-based company during the personal computer boom of the 1990s.

Michael Dell’s Rapid Rise

Michael Dell founded Dell Computer Corporation in 1984 while still a student at the University of Texas at Austin. Starting from his dorm room, he developed a direct-to-consumer business model that cut out the middleman and allowed for lower prices and customized systems. The business quickly gained traction and was incorporated as Dell Computer Corporation later that year.

By the early 1990s, Dell’s company had grown into one of the top PC manufacturers in the United States. In 1992, it entered the Fortune 500 list, making Michael Dell the youngest-ever CEO to achieve that status. His success at such a young age became a symbol of the entrepreneurial spirit driving the early tech sector, especially in Texas, which was emerging as a technology hub at the time.

Dell’s Role in Shaping Texas Technology

Dell’s success helped position Texas as a serious player in the technology world, at a time when Silicon Valley dominated most industry headlines. Headquartered in Round Rock, just outside Austin, Dell Computer brought attention to the state’s growing infrastructure and talent pool for tech development. The Austin area would go on to host a number of other major technology firms and become known as “Silicon Hills.”

Under Dell’s leadership, the company expanded globally and played a significant role in the democratization of computing. Its model of affordable, customizable computers helped bring personal computing to homes and businesses on a much larger scale. The company’s innovations in supply chain logistics and just-in-time manufacturing also set benchmarks for the broader industry.

A Legacy That Continues

Though Dell stepped away from the CEO role in 2004, he returned in 2007 and led the company through a major transition, including a high-profile privatization deal in 2013. His leadership continues to shape Dell Technologies, which now spans PCs, servers, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity services. The company re-entered public markets in 2018 after a successful turnaround and remains a major force in global technology.

Michael Dell’s early milestone in 1992 is still unmatched, and the fact that no other CEO has entered the Fortune 500 at a younger age speaks to the exceptional nature of his achievement. It reflects not just personal ambition, but also a deep understanding of market needs and an ability to scale a business effectively during a time of great technological change.

Recap of the Game

Monday’s clue was a classic example of Jeopardy’s ability to blend business history with geographic and technological relevance. Contestants had to connect the dots between a young CEO, a major corporate achievement, and a state that is not always front and center in tech trivia. The clue required not just knowledge of business figures, but also an understanding of regional influence within the tech industry.

Michael Dell’s name remains synonymous with innovation and Texas’s place on the global technology map. For Jeopardy! fans and business history buffs alike, the clue offered a compelling intersection of entrepreneurship, youth, and legacy.