Paul Allen

Paul Allen
Born	Paul Gardner Allen 21 1, 1953
Birthplace	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Died	Template:Death date and age Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, investor, philanthropist, computer programmer
Known for	Co-founding Microsoft, philanthropy, sports team ownership
Education	Washington State University (attended)
Awards	Time 100 (2007, 2008); Vanguard Award; National Medal of Arts (Americans for the Arts)

Paul Gardner Allen (January 21, 1953 – October 15, 2018) was an American businessman, computer programmer, investor, and philanthropist who co-founded Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend Bill Gates in 1975. The partnership helped launch the microcomputer revolution of the late 1970s and 1980s, and Microsoft grew to become one of the most valuable companies in the world. Allen departed from day-to-day operations at Microsoft in 1983 after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, though he remained on the company's board of directors for years afterward. He went on to build a diversified portfolio of investments spanning technology, media, real estate, scientific research, and private spaceflight. Allen owned the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, and held a partial ownership stake in Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. A dedicated philanthropist, he gave more than $2 billion over his lifetime to causes including education, wildlife and environmental conservation, the arts, healthcare, and community services. He founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science, the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Allen Institute for Cell Science. Allen died on October 15, 2018, at the age of 65, from septic shock related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. At the time of his death, Forbes estimated his net worth at approximately $20.3 billion, placing him among the wealthiest individuals in American history.

Early Life

Paul Gardner Allen was born on January 21, 1953, in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in the Seattle area, where his father, Kenneth Allen, worked as an associate director at the University of Washington libraries. Allen's early life in Seattle placed him at the nexus of what would become one of the most important technology corridors in the United States. He attended Lakeside School, a private preparatory school in Seattle, where he met Bill Gates. The two shared an intense interest in computers at a time when access to computing equipment was rare for young students. Their friendship and shared technical curiosity formed the foundation of what would later become one of the most consequential business partnerships in the history of the technology industry.

Allen and Gates spent considerable time working with early computer systems during their years at Lakeside. The school had acquired a teletype terminal connected to a time-sharing computer, and the two students devoted extensive hours to programming. This early exposure to computing technology gave both Allen and Gates a significant head start in understanding the potential of personal computers before the industry had taken shape.

Allen was several years older than Gates, and by accounts of their early relationship, it was Allen who often drove the pair's ambitions forward, envisioning commercial possibilities for the emerging technology. Their collaboration at Lakeside School included various programming projects, and the experience cemented a working relationship that would carry over into their professional lives.

Education

After graduating from Lakeside School, Allen enrolled at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. However, he did not complete his degree. Allen left the university after two years to pursue his growing interest in the computing industry. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he took a job as a programmer for Honeywell. It was during this period that Allen and Gates, who was then attending Harvard University, began planning the venture that would become Microsoft. Allen's decision to leave Washington State University proved to be a pivotal moment in the history of personal computing, as it freed him to devote his full attention to the nascent microcomputer industry.

Career

Founding of Microsoft

In 1975, Paul Allen and Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft, initially based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company's origins can be traced to Allen's reading of the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics, which featured the Altair 8800 microcomputer on its cover. Recognizing the commercial opportunity, Allen urged Gates to develop a version of the BASIC programming language for the Altair. The two contacted Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the manufacturer of the Altair, and offered to provide a BASIC interpreter for the machine. After successfully demonstrating their software, Allen and Gates formalized their partnership and established Microsoft (originally styled as "Micro-Soft") in Albuquerque, near the MITS headquarters.

Allen served in various roles at Microsoft during the company's formative years, contributing to the technical and strategic direction of the business. Microsoft's early focus on developing programming languages and operating systems for personal computers positioned the company at the center of the rapidly expanding microcomputer market. The partnership between Allen and Gates proved complementary, with Allen often identified as the idea-driven visionary of the pair, focused on new product possibilities and future technologies.

Microsoft relocated from Albuquerque to Bellevue, Washington, in 1979, bringing the company closer to Allen's and Gates's roots in the Pacific Northwest. The company's growth accelerated significantly during the early 1980s, particularly after securing a contract to provide an operating system for the IBM Personal Computer, which launched in 1981. This deal proved transformative for Microsoft and the personal computing industry as a whole.

Departure from Microsoft

In early 1983, Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer. He stepped away from his day-to-day role at Microsoft to focus on treatment and recovery. Allen successfully underwent treatment and went into remission, but he did not return to a full-time operational role at the company. He remained on Microsoft's board of directors as vice-chairman for many years following his departure.

In 2000, Allen resigned from his position on the Microsoft board of directors and assumed the title of senior strategy advisor to the company's management team. His relationship with Microsoft continued in an advisory capacity, and he retained a significant shareholding in the company, which formed the foundation of his substantial personal wealth.

Vulcan Inc. and Investment Activities

In 1986, Allen and his sister, Jody Allen, founded Vulcan Inc., a privately held company based in Seattle that served as the primary vehicle for managing Allen's business interests and philanthropic activities. Through Vulcan, Allen built a diversified investment portfolio that extended well beyond the technology sector. His holdings included interests in technology and media companies, real estate, scientific research ventures, and private spaceflight enterprises.

Allen's investment philosophy encompassed a broad range of industries and interests. He invested in numerous technology startups and established companies, and he founded several companies of his own, including Apex Learning, an educational technology company, and Stratolaunch Systems, a space transport venture. Stratolaunch Systems developed the Stratolaunch, an aircraft designed to serve as a launch platform for orbital rockets. The Stratolaunch first flew in April 2019, several months after Allen's death, and upon its maiden flight became the largest aircraft in history by wingspan.

Sports Team Ownership

Allen was the owner of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. He also held a partial ownership stake in Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer.

Allen purchased the Seahawks in 1997, an acquisition that was credited with keeping the team in Seattle at a time when relocation was a possibility. Under Allen's ownership, the Seahawks reached multiple Super Bowls. The team won Super Bowl XLVIII and Super Bowl LX, and also appeared in Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIX.

Allen's ownership of the Portland Trail Blazers represented another significant sports investment. He purchased the NBA franchise and maintained ownership throughout the remainder of his life.

Following Allen's death in 2018, his estate, managed by his sister Jody Allen, continued to oversee the sports franchises. In February 2026, the Estate of Paul G. Allen announced it had commenced a formal sale process for the Seattle Seahawks, consistent with Allen's wishes. The Allen Estate also owned approximately 25 percent of Seattle Sounders FC, though that stake was not necessarily part of the sale process. Media reports estimated the value of the Seahawks franchise at between $7 billion and $8 billion. Jody Allen indicated that the proceeds from the sale would be directed toward charitable purposes, consistent with her brother's philanthropic legacy.

Private Spaceflight

Allen was an early investor in private spaceflight. In 2004, he funded SpaceShipOne, developed by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites, which became the first privately funded crewed spaceplane to reach suborbital space. SpaceShipOne won the Ansari X Prize by completing two suborbital flights within a two-week period. The aircraft was subsequently donated to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., where it was placed on display alongside other milestones in aviation history, including the Wright Flyer and Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis.

Allen later founded Stratolaunch Systems, which developed a massive twin-fuselage aircraft designed to carry rockets to high altitude for air-launch-to-orbit missions. The Stratolaunch aircraft, with a wingspan of 385 feet, made its first flight on April 13, 2019, approximately six months after Allen's death, becoming the largest airplane ever flown by wingspan.

Scientific and Technological Ventures

Allen made substantial investments in scientific research throughout his career. He founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science in 2003, dedicating significant resources to mapping the human brain and advancing neuroscience research. The Allen Institute for Brain Science produced publicly available brain atlases and other resources used by researchers worldwide. Allen subsequently established the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2) and the Allen Institute for Cell Science, expanding his scientific philanthropy into additional fields.

Allen also funded the Allen Telescope Array, a radio telescope array at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory in northern California, built in collaboration with the SETI Institute for the purpose of searching for extraterrestrial intelligence and conducting radio astronomy research. The management of the Allen Telescope Array was later transferred to SRI International from the University of California, Berkeley.

In addition to these research institutions, Allen founded the Living Computers: Museum + Labs in Seattle, an interactive museum of computing history that featured working vintage computers and exhibits tracing the evolution of computing technology. He also established the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum (originally the Flying Heritage Collection), a collection of rare, restored military aircraft and artifacts from World War II and other conflicts.

Maritime Exploration

Allen became known later in life for his maritime exploration activities, which resulted in the discovery of several historically significant shipwrecks. Using his research vessel RV Petrel, Allen and his team located the wrecks of numerous warships, including the IJN Musashi and the USS Indianapolis, among others. These discoveries drew international attention and contributed to the historical record of naval warfare in the 20th century.

Personal Life

Paul Allen was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and maintained strong ties to the city throughout his life. His father, Kenneth S. Allen, was associated with the University of Washington libraries, and the university later named an endowment in his honor. Allen's sister, Jody Allen, served as a close collaborator in both business and philanthropy, co-founding Vulcan Inc. and managing the Allen Estate following his death.

Allen was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1983, which led to his departure from day-to-day work at Microsoft. He successfully underwent treatment and entered remission. In 2009, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a separate cancer. He again underwent treatment but faced recurring health challenges. Allen died on October 15, 2018, in Seattle, from septic shock related to his cancer. He was 65 years old.

Allen was known for his wide-ranging personal interests, which included music, aviation, history, and the arts. He was an avid collector of art and maintained a significant private collection. His yacht, Octopus, was one of the largest privately owned yachts in the world and served as a base for some of his maritime exploration expeditions.

Recognition

Allen received numerous awards and honors throughout his career in recognition of his contributions to technology, philanthropy, and the arts. He was included in the Time 100, Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, in both 2007 and 2008.

Allen was a recipient of the Vanguard Award from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. In 2008, he received the 70th Annual Citizen Award.

He was honored by Americans for the Arts with the National Arts Award in 2012, recognizing his contributions to the arts through philanthropy and institutional support.

The University of Washington, where Allen's father had worked, recognized Allen's contributions to the institution and the broader community. Allen provided significant financial support to the university, including a $14 million gift to establish a new center. The university's alumni magazine also profiled Allen's contributions and legacy.

Allen also received recognition from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland.

An insect species, a syrphid fly, was named in Allen's honor, reflecting the breadth of his engagement with scientific research and natural history.

Legacy

Paul Allen's legacy spans multiple domains, from technology and business to philanthropy, science, and sports. As co-founder of Microsoft, he played a central role in the development of the personal computer industry, which reshaped global commerce, communication, and daily life. His early recognition of the commercial potential of microcomputers and his partnership with Bill Gates produced one of the most influential technology companies in history.

Beyond Microsoft, Allen's post-career investments and philanthropic activities extended his influence into fields ranging from neuroscience and artificial intelligence to space exploration and historical preservation. The Allen Institutes—for Brain Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Cell Science—represent major contributions to scientific infrastructure, producing open-access research tools and datasets used by scientists around the world. His funding of SpaceShipOne marked a milestone in private spaceflight, demonstrating that access to space was not limited to government programs.

Allen's ownership of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers embedded him in the civic life of the Pacific Northwest. His purchase of the Seahawks in 1997 was credited with preventing the team's relocation, and the franchise went on to achieve significant success, including multiple Super Bowl appearances and championships. Following his death, the Allen Estate continued to manage the teams in accordance with his wishes, with the formal sale process for the Seahawks commencing in February 2026, with proceeds directed toward philanthropy.

Allen gave more than $2 billion to philanthropic causes during his lifetime, supporting education, wildlife and environmental conservation, the arts, healthcare, and community services. His maritime explorations, which led to the discovery of historically significant shipwrecks, contributed to the understanding of naval history and provided closure for families of those lost at sea.

The institutions and organizations that Allen created or supported continue to operate after his death, extending his impact. His sister Jody Allen has carried on the management of the Allen Estate, overseeing the disposition of his assets and the continuation of his charitable commitments.