Paul Allen: Co-founder of Microsoft and Founder of Vulcan Inc.

Paul Allen: Co-founder of Microsoft and Founder of Vulcan Inc.

Business Owner · Information Technology

Seattle

Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, later founded Vulcan Inc. and owned the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers.

About Paul Allen: Co-founder of Microsoft and Founder of Vulcan Inc.

Paul Gardner Allen (January 21, 1953 to October 15, 2018) was an American businessman, computer programmer and investor who co-founded Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend Bill Gates in 1975. Forbes ranked him one of the richest people in American history, with an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion at his death in October 2018. Allen quit 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 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 NFL's Seattle Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers and was part-owner of Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC. Under the Allen Estate, the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII and made it to two other Super Bowls. In 2000 he resigned from Microsoft's board and became a senior strategy advisor to the company's management team. Sources: English Wikipedia (Paul Allen, accessed September 2026).

Basic Information

Co-founder, Microsoft; founder, Vulcan Inc. (1953-2018)

Company Details

Vulcan Inc. / Microsoft

Software, Sports Ownership, Philanthropy