Margot met her future husband while she was still a college student. Ross was in his final year at the Naval Academy when he asked her on a blind date. They never parted after that night. For more, visit dallaski.
Throughout their life together, Margot and Ross walked side by side. They weathered every high and low with unwavering support for each other. Their mutual understanding and respect made them incredibly successful. After Ross’s death, Margot has never fully eased her pain. She now devotes her time exclusively to family and charitable work.
Challenges as Their Main Motivation
Margot and Ross met at a very young age, still unsure of what their futures would look like. Their challenging childhoods likely drew them together—Ross’s was especially tough.
Ross Perot was born in 1930 in Texarkana, Texas, the third child of Lulu May Rae and Gabriel Ross Perot. His mother worked as a secretary at a lumber company, and his father was a cotton broker. Although Ross didn’t appear poor compared to other kids, his family constantly struggled financially. As an adult, he often recalled a childhood moment when he asked his father for a bicycle. His father told him to get a job and save up for one himself. This seemingly trivial incident had a profound impact on him. It fueled his drive and motivation. Yet, the greatest inspiration for Ross ultimately became Margot.
Margot Birmingham also came from an ordinary family. Unlike her husband, she never dreamed of great wealth—at least, not until she met him. She graduated from Goucher College and planned to go into teaching. But life took a different turn: Margot became her husband’s chief muse and assistant while raising their five children.
The Move to Dallas
Margot and Ross Perot moved to Dallas in 1957. They left almost everything behind, packing only what would fit into the trunk of their old car.
Having decided to leave military life behind, Ross arrived in Texas as a salesman for IBM. This pivotal move would change the couple’s life for the better. In Dallas, the couple found countless opportunities. Soon, Ross was hailed as one of the company’s top performers after reaching a year’s sales quota in just a few weeks.
With entrepreneurial ideas buzzing in his head and IBM management ignoring them, he felt compelled to resign. In 1962, Ross founded Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and began working with major corporations. Since EDS provided data-processing services, Ross repeatedly bid on contracts—only to face rejection over 70 times. Just when he was ready to give up, it was Margot who pushed him forward. She supported him every step of the way, assuring him that he could succeed.
It wasn’t until the late 1960s that EDS landed lucrative contracts from the U.S. government to computerize Medicare records. Then, in 1968, the company went public—its stock soaring from $16 to $160 in just days. That same year, Fortune magazine dubbed Perot the “fastest and richest Texan” in history.
Ross Perot’s Political Career
Ross first turned to politics in 1969. He became involved in efforts to resolve issues around POWs during the Vietnam War, meeting privately with high-ranking North Vietnamese officials. Convinced that hundreds of American service members remained in Southeast Asia because officials were covering up POW investigations to hide drug smuggling, Ross held unsanctioned talks with the Vietnamese side. This led to a break in his relationship with President George H.W. Bush’s administration.
Perot was openly critical of President Bush’s policies and opposed U.S. involvement in the Gulf War. These stands inspired him to run for president himself—in both 1992 and 1996—but he fell short both times. While many voters related to his platform, he lacked party backing, had limited political experience, and made strategic errors that kept him from winning the White House.
Ross’s Passing and Margot’s Volunteerism
Ross Perot died in 2019, just two weeks after his 89th birthday. He had battled leukemia for some time, but the disease ultimately took his life. His passing was a devastating blow to Margot—after more than 60 years together, she felt as though a part of herself had gone with him.
At first, she withdrew from even her closest relatives, lost in her grief. In time, she found some solace and began visiting her children and grandchildren, but she cut off communication with journalists and public figures for good. You won’t see her photos in the media anymore—she doesn’t attend even major events. Her sole focus now is on charity work.
At his death, his net worth was estimated at around $4.1 billion, ranking him 167th on Forbes’ list of America’s wealthiest. Having built his fortune honestly while fighting injustice alongside his wife, Margot believes he would be proud to see their money used for good.
Margot’s most significant aid to those in need began during the pandemic. Quietly and without fanfare, she awarded hundreds of grants ranging from a few thousand to tens of millions of dollars. Her children often share stories of her work, saying Margot has a heart the size of Texas and never strays from her hometown of Dallas. Their accounts speak volumes: she’s literally fighting for the lives of people suffering from food and clothing shortages, homelessness, and other hardships.
Margot’s children and grandchildren have joined her in philanthropy. Long before their father died, in 2008, his five children donated $10 million each to build the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in their parents’ honor. For them, the museum embodies the steadfast love they witnessed between Margot and Ross. At its opening, they revealed a family secret: when Ross risked everything to launch Electronic Data Systems, Margot gave her last $1,000 from her teaching paycheck, believing he would succeed.