Paul Allen

Paul Allen and Bill Gates at Lakeside School in 1970

Altair Basic Sign

Stratolaunch comparison

Paul G. Allen at Allen Institute for Brain Science

RV Petrel in Surigao City after her 2018 retrofit in Singapore

Paul Allen and Steve Wozniak at the Living Computer Museum

Paul Gardner Allen (January 21, 1953 – October 15, 2018) was an American business magnate, researcher, investor, and philanthropist. He is best known for co-founding Microsoft Corporation alongside Bill Gates in 1975, which would become the world's largest personal computer software company. Allen's multifaceted career also included ventures in electric guitar history, space travel, and underwater exploration, as well as significant philanthropic contributions through his Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Early Life and Education

Paul Allen was born in Seattle, Washington, to Kenneth Sam Allen and Edna Faye Allen. He developed an early interest in computers at Lakeside School, a private school in Seattle, where he met Bill Gates, a fellow student. The duo bonded over their enthusiasm for computer programming. Allen went on to attend Washington State University, though he dropped out after two years to work as a programmer for Honeywell in Boston, where Gates was attending Harvard University. Allen convinced Gates to drop out of Harvard to start Microsoft.

Microsoft

In 1975, Allen and Gates founded Microsoft. Allen came up with the original name of "Micro-Soft," a portmanteau of microcomputer and software. He was instrumental in securing a contract to provide the operating system for IBM's first personal computer, which was a pivotal moment in Microsoft's history. Despite stepping down from his day-to-day role in 1983 after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, Allen remained on the board of directors and was a significant shareholder until his death.

Post-Microsoft Ventures

After leaving Microsoft, Allen pursued various business and philanthropic efforts. He founded Vulcan Inc., a privately held company managing his various business and charitable efforts. Allen's investments included technology companies, real estate, and media. He owned the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL) and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

In addition to his business ventures, Allen was known for his contributions to science and culture. He founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science to accelerate understanding of the human brain and funded the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence to advance artificial intelligence research. His interest in music led him to establish the Experience Music Project, now known as the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), in Seattle.

Philanthropy

Allen was a noted philanthropist, donating over $2 billion to various causes, including education, wildlife and environmental conservation, the arts, and health and human services. His philanthropic efforts were primarily channeled through the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Death

Paul Allen died on October 15, 2018, from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. His death was widely mourned across the technology industry and beyond, with many noting his profound impact on technology, culture, and philanthropy.

Legacy

Allen's legacy is marked by his co-founding of Microsoft, which helped spark the personal computing revolution, as well as his wide-ranging philanthropic efforts and investments in science, technology, and the arts. He is remembered as a visionary who transformed technology and made significant contributions to humanity's understanding of the world.