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Paul Allen

This article is about the entrepreneur and philanthropist. For other people of the same name, see Paul Allen (disambiguation).

Paul Allen
Allen seated in an airplane
Allen at the Flying Heritage Collection in 2013
Born
Paul Gardner Allen

(1953-01-21)January 21, 1953
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
DiedOctober 15, 2018(2018-10-15) (aged 65)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
EducationWashington State University (dropped out)
Occupations
  • Entrepreneur
  • investor
  • philanthropist
  • programmer
  • researcher
  • film producer
  • sports executive
Years active1972–2018
Known for
Title
See list
RelativesJody Allen (sister)
Websitepaulallen.com

Paul Gardner Allen (January 21, 1953 – October 15, 2018) was an American businessman, computer programmer, researcher, investor, film producer, explorer, and philanthropist. He is best known for co-founding Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend Bill Gates in 1975, which helped spark the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s. Allen was ranked as the 44th-wealthiest person in the world by Forbes with an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion at the time of his death in October 2018.[2][3]

Allen quit from day-to-day 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,[4] 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] Under the helm of Allen, the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII and made it to two other Super Bowls (XL and XLIX). 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 founded the Allen Institutes for Brain Science,[8] Artificial Intelligence,[9] and Cell Science,[10] as well as companies like Stratolaunch Systems[11] and Apex Learning.[12] He gave more than $2 billion to causes such as education, wildlife and environmental conservation, the arts, healthcare, and community services.[13] In 2004, he funded the first crewed private spaceplane with SpaceShipOne.[14][15] He received numerous awards and honors, and was listed among the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2007 and 2008.[16]

Allen was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2009. He died of septic shock related to cancer on October 15, 2018, at the age of 65.[17] Shortly after his death, in April 2019, the Allen-funded Stratolaunch first flew and became the largest aircraft in history by wingspan.[18]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference CNNMoney was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "#21 Paul Allen - 2018 Forbes 400 Net Worth". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  3. ^ "Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen dies of cancer at age 65". CNBC. October 15, 2018. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "Leadership". Vulcan.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference seahawks was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference trailblazers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference soccer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Timmerman, Luke (March 21, 2012). "Paul Allen Commits $300M to Expand Institute for Brain Science" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Xconomy.
  9. ^ "Paul Allen Hires AI Luminary, Oren Etzioni, to Head New Artificial Intelligence Institute". Singularity Hub. September 11, 2013. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "Allen Institute for Cell Science". Allen Institute for Cell Science. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  11. ^ "Stratolaunch - Who We Are". Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  12. ^ "Education Growth Partners Acquires Paul Allen's Online Curriculum Company, Apex Learning - EdSurge News". EdSurge. May 2, 2017. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Expanded bio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "COLLIER 2000-2009 RECIPIENTS". Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Airandspace.si.edu was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference TIME was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference Inquisitr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference ArsTechnica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).