Who Is Paul Allen? Age, Biography and Wiki
Paul Allen was born on January 21, 1953, in Seattle, Washington. He co-founded Microsoft alongside Bill Gates in 1975, which transformed the technology landscape as we know it today. Utilizing his immense success, Allen became a prominent philanthropist and investor across various industries, ranging from technology to sports. He passed away on October 15, 2018, but his influence remains significant in 2025 and beyond.
| Occupation | Computer Programmer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 21, 1953 |
| Age | 65 Years |
| Birth Place | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 15 October, 2018 |
| Died Place | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
Popularity
Paul Allen's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements of Paul Allen in terms of height and weight during his lifetime are not widely documented, he was known to be approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall. His stature complemented his commanding presence in both the business world and philanthropy.
* Vulcan Capital is an investment arm of Allen's Seattle-based Vulcan Inc., which has managed his personal fortune. In 2013, Allen opened a new Vulcan Capital office in Palo Alto, California, to focus on making new investments in emerging technology and internet companies.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Paul Allen was quite private about his personal life. He never married but had several relationships throughout his life. His relationships were often low-key, and he chose to keep the details away from the public eye. As of 2025, there are no available updates on romantic partnerships or a significant other since his passing.
The company restructured on June 25, 1981, to become an incorporated business in its home state of Washington (with a further change of its name to "Microsoft Corporation, Inc."). As part of the restructuring, Gates became president of the company and chairman of the board, and Allen became executive vice president and vice chairman.
The relationship between Allen and Gates became strained as they argued even over small things. Allen effectively left Microsoft in 1982 after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, though he remained on the board of directors as vice chairman.
Gates reportedly asked Allen to give him some of his shares to compensate for the higher amount of work that Gates was doing. According to Allen, Gates said that he "did almost everything on BASIC" and the company should be split 60–40 in his favor. Allen agreed to this arrangement, which Gates later renegotiated to 64–36.
In 1983, Gates tried to buy Allen out at $5 per share, but Allen refused and left the company with his shares intact; this made him a billionaire when Microsoft went public. Gates later repaired his relationship with Allen, and the two men donated $2.2 million to their childhood school Lakeside in 1986.
They remained friends for the rest of Allen's life.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death, Paul Allen's net worth was estimated to exceed $20 billion, making him one of the richest individuals in the world. His wealth stemmed from his Microsoft shares and various business investments. Following his death, there were discussions surrounding the management of his estate and ongoing projects that continue to influence economic sectors.
Paul Gardner Allen (January 21, 1953 – October 15, 2018) was an American businessman, computer programmer, researcher, film producer, explorer, sports executive, investor, author, and philanthropist.
He co-founded Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend Bill Gates in 1975, which was followed by 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.
Career, Business and Investments
Paul Allen's career was defined by his venture into technology with the establishment of Microsoft. His strategic vision played a critical role in shaping one of the most powerful tech companies globally. Beyond Microsoft, Allen made remarkable investments in several fields, including:
- Aerospace: Co-founder of Stratolaunch, a company aimed at revolutionizing air travel.
- Media: Owner of the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), showcasing his passion for sports.
- Philanthropy: Through the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, he funded multiple initiatives in science, technology, and the arts.
From 1965 to 1971 he attended Lakeside School, a private school in Seattle where he befriended Bill Gates, with whom he shared an enthusiasm for computers. They used Lakeside's Teletype terminals to develop their programming skills on several time-sharing computer systems.
They also used the laboratory of the Computer Science Department of the University of Washington for personal research and computer programming until they were banned in 1971 for abusing their privileges.
Social Network
Paul Allen was not a prominent figure on social media but contributed to various online platforms indirectly through his philanthropic efforts. Additionally, many organizations and foundations related to his name maintain active social profiles to keep supporters updated on their missions and projects.
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, a privately held company that managed his business and philanthropic efforts.
At the time of his death, 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 and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, and was part-owner of the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. Under Allen's helm, 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.
Education
Paul Allen attended Washington State University but left before completing his degree to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations at Microsoft. His desire for learning and innovation led him to become a lifelong advocate for education and technology, resulting in numerous contributions to educational initiatives and institutions.
Allen achieved a perfect SAT score of 1600 and went to Washington State University, where he joined the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. He dropped out of college after two years to work as a programmer for Honeywell in Boston near Harvard University where Gates was enrolled. Allen convinced Gates to drop out of Harvard in order to found Microsoft.
