AT A GLANCE
- Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones publicly criticized Spurs minority owner Michael Dell during a District 9 town hall, questioning why taxpayers helped fund a new Spurs arena when Dell and his wife donated $6.25 billion to President Donald Trump’s new “Trump Accounts” program.
- Dell’s donation came weeks after voters approved $800 million in public financing for a new downtown Spurs arena under Project Marvel.
- The Spurs-backed “Win Together” campaign spent nearly $8 million pushing voters to approve the arena funding, making it one of the most expensive pro-sports ballot campaigns in U.S. history.
- Mayor Jones says she will continue demanding data and transparency as the city finalizes its term sheet with Spurs Sports & Entertainment, signaling that voter approval will not end oversight of the project.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones Blasts Michael Dell Over $6.25 Billion Trump Account Donation
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones delivered sharp criticism Monday night during her first town hall of the year, calling out Spurs minority owner and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell over his multibillion-dollar donation to the Trump administration’s new “Trump Accounts” investment program.
Speaking candidly before residents at the Walker Ranch Senior Center, the mayor questioned whether Dell’s immense wealth, and his ability to make a $6.25 billion contribution, was indirectly enabled by public subsidies tied to the Spurs’ new arena deal.
“Michael Dell is an owner of the Spurs,” Mayor Jones said. “I wonder if he was able to do that because the city gave up — and the county gave up — so much money for the [new Spurs] arena. Because if you can give $6 billion for these accounts, you could have paid for your own arena.”
Reportedly, the mayor was frank in her remarks, adding bluntly that Dell’s move “really pissed [her] me off.”
The comments came during a District 9 town hall co-hosted with conservative Councilwoman Misty Spears. Mayor Jones has been making the rounds across the city, holding district-by-district town halls to engage residents on the city budget, infrastructure priorities, and public safety concerns.
Recent stops have included meetings in Districts 4, 3, 10, and 6, as the mayor continues community town halls for direct community engagement in this new year.
Dell’s Donation and the Trump Accounts Program
In December, Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell, announced a $6.25 billion donation to establish investment accounts for millions of American children as part of the Trump administration’s “Trump Accounts” initiative. The program, created under President Donald Trump’s tax and spending legislation, promises to provide each eligible child with $250 in seed money for a government-approved investment account.
Administration officials have framed the initiative as a long-term wealth-building tool for families, particularly those in lower-income ZIP codes. Dell’s contribution effectively laid the financial groundwork for the program, making it one of the largest private donations tied to a federal policy initiative in recent history.
The program recently drew national attention again after rapper Nicki Minaj publicly endorsed Trump during a U.S. Treasury Department event promoting the accounts, calling herself the president’s “number one fan.”
Arena Vote, Public Money, and Growing Scrutiny
Dell’s donation landed less than a month after Bexar County voters narrowly approved $800 million in public financing for a new downtown Spurs arena as part of the broader Project Marvel sports-and-entertainment district.
Campaign finance records show the Spurs organization and its aligned political action committee, the Win Together campaign, spent nearly $8 million supporting the ballot measures to secure public funding for the arena. It was one of the most expensive pro-sports arena ballot efforts in U.S. history.
The Win Together campaign, funded largely by Spurs Sports & Entertainment, blanketed voters with mailers, calls, texts and outreach to push Proposition B ahead of the November election.
Micheal Dell owns a 10 % minority stake in Spurs Sports & Entertainment and has an estimated net worth of $130.1B according to Forbes.
Mayor Vows Continued Oversight
Mayor Jones told attendees she will continue pressing for transparency and accountability as City Manager Erik Walsh finalizes a term sheet with SS&E.
“I’ll continue asking these questions and making sure that we have the data and are asking for more, because we deserve more,” Mayor Jones said.
The San Antonio Observer has previously reported on Spurs ownership and the network of powerful stakeholders behind the franchise. Mayor Jones’ remarks signal that, even with voter approval secured, the political debate over public investment, private wealth, and who truly benefits from billion-dollar deals is far from settled.
