Paul Allen

Paul Gardner Allen (January 21, 1953 – October 15, 2018) was an American business magnate, computer programmer, researcher, investor, and philanthropist. He co-founded Microsoft Corporation with childhood friend Bill Gates in 1975, which helped spark the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s. Microsoft became the world's largest personal computer software company.[1] Allen was ranked as the 44th-wealthiest person in the world by Forbes in 2018, with an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion at the time of his death.[2][3]

Paul Allen was an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist known for co-founding Microsoft with Bill Gates. Allen worked at Microsoft from its founding in 1975 until 1983, shortly after being diagnosed with early-stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After stepping away from day-to-day activities at Microsoft, Allen remained on the board of the company until 2000.

Allen left regular work at Microsoft in early 1983 after a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, remaining on its board as vice-chairman. He and his sister, Jody Allen, founded Vulcan Inc. in 1986, a privately held company that managed his business and philanthropic efforts. He had a multi-billion dollar investment portfolio, including technology and media companies, scientific research, real estate holdings, private space flight ventures, and stakes in other sectors. He owned the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League[5] and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association,[6] and was part-owner of the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer.[7] In 2000 he resigned from his position on Microsoft's board and assumed the post of senior strategy advisor to the company's management team.

Allen was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma again in 2009 and 2018. After the second diagnosis, he wrote his memoir, Idea Man. Allen passed away on October 15, 2018, at the age of 65, from complications caused by cancer. Allen's philanthropic contributions during his life were more than $2.65 billion, funding a range of projects in conservation, climate science, ocean health, technology, museums, epidemics, neuroscience research, and more.

Paul Allen was born in Seattle on January 21, 1953, to parents Ken and Faye Allen. Ken Allen was associate director of libraries at the University of Washington and Faye Allen was a teacher. Allen had a younger sister called Jody. Both of Allen's parents were avid readers and they encouraged their children to read and develop a range of interests, taking them to museums, libraries, and concerts. Allen's love of science began at an early age and he spent hours reading science fiction and drawing rockets and astronauts. At ten years old, he started a science club for his friends in his basement.

Paul G. Allen’s Art at Christie’s Tops $1.5 Billion, Cracking Records

A museum’s worth of masterworks from the Microsoft co-founder’s collection are offered in a two-part charity sale. Five topped $100 million.

Allen began attending Lakeside School in 1965, developing a passion for computer science and learning to write code. He would spot glitches in computer programs and work on correcting them. While at school, Allen made friends with Bill Gates a fellow computer enthusiast. In 1971 he went to college at Washington State University. He dropped out to found Microsoft with Bill Gates.