Paul Allen

Paul Allen
Name	Paul Allen
Caption	Allen in 2011
Birth date	21 January 1953
Birth place	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Death date	15 October 2018
Death place	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Education	Lakeside School
Alma mater	Washington State University (dropped out)
Occupation	Businessman, investor, philanthropist
Known for	Co-founding Microsoft, owner of Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers
Net worth	$20.3 billion (2018)

Paul Allen was an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist best known for co-founding the Microsoft Corporation with Bill Gates. His vast post-Microsoft investments spanned technology, sports, real estate, and space exploration, while his philanthropic efforts focused on science, education, and the arts. Allen's life was marked by his pioneering role in the personal computer revolution, his ownership of major professional sports franchises, and his significant contributions to scientific research and cultural institutions.

Early life and education

Born in Seattle, he attended the private Lakeside School, where he met future business partner Bill Gates. The two bonded over a shared passion for computer programming on the school's Teletype Model 33 terminal. Allen later enrolled at Washington State University but dropped out after two years to work as a programmer for Honeywell in Boston. His pivotal move came when he showed Gates the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics featuring the Altair 8800, convincing him they should develop software for the new microcomputer.

Microsoft and early career

Allen and Gates founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1975, with Allen persuading the creators of the Altair 8800 to license their BASIC interpreter. He is credited with coining the company name, a portmanteau of "microcomputer" and "software," and played a crucial technical role in Microsoft's early products, including the MS-DOS operating system licensed to IBM. Diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1982, he resigned from active management at Microsoft in 1983 but retained his seat on the board of directors and a significant shareholding, which formed the foundation of his immense wealth.

Post-Microsoft ventures

Allen founded the investment and project management company Vulcan Inc. to oversee his diverse portfolio. His investments included the founding of Charter Communications, a major cable television operator, and Interval Research Corporation, a noted Silicon Valley lab. He owned the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks and the National Basketball Association's Portland Trail Blazers, funding major renovations to Lumen Field and the Moda Center. Allen also founded the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, backed the SpaceShipOne project by Scaled Composites, and funded research vessels like the RV Petrel for maritime exploration.

Philanthropy

Through the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and direct giving, he committed over $2 billion to philanthropy. Major initiatives included the Allen Institute for Brain Science, the Allen Institute for Cell Science, and the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, all dedicated to open science. He provided substantial grants to the University of Washington for computer science and global health, funded the EMP Museum (now the Museum of Pop Culture), and supported conservation efforts via projects like Great Elephant Census. His philanthropy also extended to Pacific Northwest arts organizations and community development projects in Seattle.

Personal life and death

Allen, who never married, was known for his eclectic interests, including playing guitar with his band The Underthinkers and owning a renowned collection of historic aircraft and naval vessels, like the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum. He owned several yachts, including the Octopus, and maintained residences in Mercer Island, Los Angeles, and New York City. A lifelong Seattle resident, he was treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2009 and died from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma on October 15, 2018, at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.

Legacy and honors

Allen's legacy is anchored in his foundational role at Microsoft and his visionary, cross-disciplinary investments in science, technology, and culture. The research outputs from the Allen Institutes have become critical resources for the global scientific community. He was awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His ownership revitalized the Seattle Seahawks, leading to a Super Bowl XLVIII victory, and he was posthumously honored with the NFL's George Halas Award. The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington stands as a major academic tribute to his impact.

Category:American businesspeople Category:American philanthropists Category:Microsoft people