Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Dies at 65: Owner of NFL Seahawks and NBA Trail Blazers

The family of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who was also the owner of the NFL Seattle Seahawks and NBA Trail Blazers,and a noted philanthropist, has died of complications from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was 65.

The following statements were released today by Vulcan Inc. on behalf of the Allen Family, Vulcan Inc. and the Paul G. Allen network.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our founder Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and noted technologist, philanthropist, community builder, conservationist, musician and supporter of the arts. Mr. Allen died on Monday afternoon, October 15, 2018, from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Seattle. Mr. Allen was 65 years old.

STATEMENT FROM PAUL G. ALLEN’S FAMILY

This is a time of profound loss for Mr. Allen’s family. On their behalf, Paul’s sister, Ms. Jody Allen, has released the following statement.

“My brother was a remarkable individual on every level. While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend.

Paul’s family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern. For all the demands on his schedule, there was always time for family and friends. At this time of loss and grief for us – and so many others – we are profoundly grateful for the care and concern he demonstrated every day.”

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF VULCAN INC. AND THE PAUL G. ALLEN NETWORK

Speaking on behalf of Vulcan Inc., the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazers, Stratolaunch Systems, the Allen Institute and the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Vulcan CEO Bill Hilf released this statement:

“All of us who had the honor of working with Paul feel inexpressible loss today. He possessed a remarkable intellect and a passion to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems, with the conviction that creative thinking and new approaches could make profound and lasting impact.

Millions of people were touched by his generosity, his persistence in pursuit of a better world, and his drive to accomplish as much as he could with the time and resources at his disposal.

Paul’s life was diverse and lived with gusto. It reflected his myriad interests in technology, music and the arts, biosciences and artificial intelligence, conservation and in the power of shared experience – in a stadium or a neighborhood – to transform individual lives and whole communities.

Paul loved Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The impact of Paul’s efforts can be seen here at every turn. But the true impact of his vision and generosity is evident around the globe.

Paul thoughtfully addressed how the many institutions he founded and supported would continue after he was no longer able to lead them. This isn’t the time to deal in those specifics as we focus on Paul’s family. We will continue to work on furthering Paul’s mission and the projects he entrusted to us. There are no changes imminent for Vulcan, the teams, the research institutes or museums.

Today we mourn our boss, mentor and friend whose 65 years were too short – and acknowledge the honor it has been to work alongside someone whose life transformed the world.”

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aul G. Allen Timeline

1953: Paul Allen is born January 21, 1953 in Seattle, Washington
1968: While at Lakeside School, Paul meets Bill Gates. A friendship that would later produce one of the world’s most innovative companies, Microsoft.
1969: Attends first rock concert, where he sees Jimi Hendrix at Seattle Center Coliseum
1975: Founds Microsoft
1982: In September, Paul is diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Nearly eight months later, doctors said he had beaten the disease.
1983: Officially resigns from Microsoft in March
1986: Founds Vulcan Inc. in Seattle as an investment and project management firm with his sister, Jody Allen
1988: Establishes The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
1988: Purchases the Portland Trail Blazers
1988: Rescues Seattle Cinerama from demolition by purchasing and restoring the theater
1990: The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation makes its first grant.
1990: Becomes a billionaire at age 37
1995: Makes his single biggest investment to date by purchasing a 18.5% stake in Dreamworks
1996: Purchases the St. Paul’s Hospital in London, which would reopen later after renovations as The Hospital Club
1997: Creates Vulcan Productions, an independent film production company
1997: Purchases the Seattle Seahawks, preventing the NFL team from relocating to California
2002: Donates $14 million to the University of Washington to construct the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering
2003: Launches the Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBS) with $100 million in seed money
2004: SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately-based effort to successfully put a civilian in suborbital space, winning the Ansari X Prize
2004: Opens the Flying Heritage Collection, a private collection of warbirds, in Arlington, Washington
2008: Lifetime philanthropic giving reaches $1 billion in total
2009: Becomes a minority owner in Seattle Sounders, the MLS team
2011: Releases memoir “Idea Man”
2011: Announces the launch of Stratolaunch Systems. The venture’s goal is to create an air launch to orbit system
2012: Opens the Living Computer Museum, an interactive collection of vintage mainframes and machines, to the public in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood
2013: Announces expansion of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, aiming to model it after the Brain Science Institute
2014: Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl over the Denver Broncos
2014: Pledges $100 million to support efforts to stop Ebola outbreak in West Africa
2014: Founds the Allen Institute for Cell Science
2017: Locates the wreck of the USS Indianapolis
2018: Dies on Oct. 15 in Seattle of complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Read more stories about the remarkable things that Paul Allen enabled at PaulAllen.com >>