Billionaire hedge fund founder Ray Dalio has announced his support for President Donald Trump's initiative, known as "Trump Accounts," which aims to provide financial assistance to children. Through Dalio Philanthropies, Dalio and his wife, Barbara, plan to donate $250 to approximately 300,000 children in Connecticut, specifically targeting areas where the median family income is $150,000 or less. In a statement, Dalio emphasized the importance of early financial literacy and equal opportunity, noting that exposure to the stock market at a young age significantly impacted his life.
The Trump Accounts program will issue a one-time, tax-free federal grant of $1,000 to every child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. The accounts, which will be set up in the child’s name, will allow parents to act as custodians until the child reaches adulthood. Additionally, parents and others will be permitted to contribute up to $5,000 tax-free to these accounts each year.
Dalio's initiative follows a similar commitment from Michael and Susan Dell, who recently pledged a total of $6.25 billion to deposit $250 into the accounts of 25 million American children. Financial services company BlackRock has also joined the effort, offering a $1,000 match for all eligible U.S. employees contributing to the Trump Accounts.
The program is set to officially launch on July 4, 2026, and has gained the backing of several other business leaders, including executives from Goldman Sachs and Nvidia. The broader aim of the initiative is to promote financial literacy and provide a pathway to financial independence for future generations.