Paul Allen Biography Quotes 7 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Paul Gardner Allen was born on January 21, 1953, in Seattle, Washington, USA. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest with his parents, Kenneth S. Allen and Edna Faye (Gardner) Allen, and his sister, Jody Allen. At Lakeside School in Seattle, Allen encountered computers for the first time and formed a friendship and working partnership with a younger student, Bill Gates. The two bonded over the power and promise of computing, spending long hours learning to program and exploring what early time-sharing systems could do. After high school, Allen enrolled at Washington State University, but left before graduating to pursue hands-on computing work.

Forming a Partnership with Bill Gates
By the early 1970s, Allen and Gates were constantly discussing how personal computing might move from hobbyist circles into everyday life. Allen worked at Honeywell in the Boston area, while Gates attended Harvard. When the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics featured the Altair 8800 microcomputer, Allen recognized it as the breakout moment they had anticipated. He and Gates quickly developed a version of the BASIC programming language for the machine and demonstrated it to its manufacturer, MITS. Their success opened the door to a business partnership.

Founding Microsoft and the Early PC Era
In 1975, Allen and Gates co-founded the company that became Microsoft, initially based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to serve MITS and other early microcomputer makers. Allen played a central role in engineering and business development as the young company expanded its language tools and operating systems. When the personal computer market accelerated at the end of the decade, Microsoft relocated to the Seattle area. The company's pivotal partnership to supply the operating system for IBM's first personal computer propelled Microsoft from a promising startup into a dominant force in software. Allen worked closely with Gates and early executives including Steve Ballmer as the company grew rapidly in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Illness, Departure, and Continued Shareholding
In 1982, Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He underwent treatment and, in 1983, stepped back from day-to-day operations at Microsoft. He retained a large ownership stake and served as a member of the board for years afterward. His 2011 memoir, Idea Man, reflected on his early collaboration with Gates, the intense culture of the young company, and the broader possibilities of technology. Although he left operational leadership at Microsoft, his early contributions and long-term shareholding tied his fortunes to the company's success.

Building Vulcan and a Portfolio of Ventures
In the mid-1980s, Allen formed Vulcan Inc. to manage his investments and philanthropy. He and his sister, Jody Allen, worked together through Vulcan on technology startups, media properties, real estate, and civic projects. Allen invested in Charter Communications and supported digital media innovators such as Starwave, which helped build early large-scale websites for news and sports. He co-founded Interval Research Corporation with David Liddle to explore cutting-edge ideas in human-computer interaction and consumer technologies. He also provided early financial backing to DreamWorks, reflecting his belief in the convergence of technology and creative industries. Through Vulcan Real Estate, he participated in the redevelopment of Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood, shaping a district that became a hub for science, technology, and life sciences.

Sports Ownership and Community Impact
Allen purchased the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers in 1988 and the NFL's Seattle Seahawks in 1997, and later held a minority stake in Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. His ownership emphasized long-term competitiveness, strong management, and community engagement. Under his stewardship, the Seahawks became one of the league's most passionately followed teams, culminating in a Super Bowl XLVIII championship. He supported state and local efforts leading to the modern stadium and exhibition center in Seattle, a project that galvanized fan support and bolstered the team's future in the region. In Portland, he maintained a commitment to the Trail Blazers and their role in the city's identity and civic life.

Arts, Culture, and Public Projects
A lifelong music enthusiast and guitarist, Allen founded the Experience Music Project in Seattle, now the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), designed by architect Frank Gehry. The museum reflects his fascination with creativity and innovation, with exhibits tracing the evolution of music and popular culture. He also established the Living Computer Museum (later Living Computers: Museum + Labs) to preserve and operate vintage machines, allowing visitors to experience historic systems in working order. His art collecting and support for exhibitions brought notable works to public audiences, and his team helped launch the Seattle Art Fair to showcase the city's growing cultural scene.

Science, Space, and Exploration
Allen's curiosity extended to frontiers in science and exploration. He provided major funding for SpaceShipOne, the first privately financed craft to carry a civilian into suborbital space, developed by Burt Rutan's team and winner of the Ansari X Prize in 2004. He later founded Stratolaunch Systems to pursue air-launch concepts for orbital access using one of the world's largest aircraft. In astronomy, he backed the Allen Telescope Array in partnership with the SETI Institute and the University of California, supporting open-ended searches and radio astronomy research. He also equipped and supported deep-sea exploration, with expeditions locating historic shipwrecks such as the battleship Musashi and other significant World War II vessels, broadening the public's connection to maritime history.

Philanthropy and Research Institutes
Allen's philanthropy centered on ambitious, long-horizon scientific institutions and measurable conservation work. He created the Allen Institute for Brain Science in 2003, which produced widely used open data resources, including brain atlases for multiple species, to accelerate neuroscience. He expanded this model with the Allen Institute for Cell Science and the Allen Institute for AI (AI2), the latter becoming a major center for artificial intelligence research and open tools under leaders including Oren Etzioni. Beyond science, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and Vulcan supported education, the arts, and community health, and funded rapid-response efforts such as Ebola relief. In wildlife conservation, he supported aerial surveys and technology to combat poaching and to improve data-driven stewardship of ecosystems.

Public Voice and Writing
Allen wrote Idea Man to chronicle his path from a computer-obsessed teenager to co-founder of one of the world's most influential technology companies. The book also explored his broader pursuits in science, exploration, and the arts, and provided perspective on his collaboration and sometimes complex relationship with Bill Gates and other Microsoft leaders such as Steve Ballmer. Allen often argued that private philanthropy could catalyze discovery when paired with open science and shared data, a philosophy that shaped the structure and mission of his institutes.

Personal Interests and Character
Known for his quiet demeanor and wide-ranging curiosity, Allen balanced analytical focus with a creative impulse. He played guitar frequently and, with his band the Underthinkers, released the album Everywhere at Once in 2013, collaborating with well-known musicians. He enjoyed time on the water and supported ocean science with research vessels outfitted for exploration and rescue. Those who worked with him at Vulcan and across his institutes describe a leader who set ambitious goals yet prized teams, patient capital, and the public release of results.

Final Years and Legacy
In October 2018, Allen died in Seattle at age 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Tributes poured in from figures across technology, science, sports, and the arts, including Bill Gates, Microsoft leaders, colleagues from his research institutes, and coaches and players from the teams he owned. His sister, Jody Allen, assumed leadership responsibilities across his estate, teams, and philanthropic entities. Allen's legacy spans co-founding Microsoft and helping launch the personal computing revolution; building institutions that continue to publish open, foundational scientific datasets and tools; strengthening the civic and cultural fabric of the Pacific Northwest; and demonstrating how a technologist's wealth and imagination can be directed toward discovery, community, and enduring public benefit.

Our collection contains 7 quotes who is written by Paul, under the main topics: Science - Technology - Vision & Strategy - Perseverance - Kindness.

Other people realated to Paul: Jaron Lanier (Artist), Walter Isaacson (Writer), David Geffen (Businessman), Shaun Alexander (Athlete), Mike Melville (Aviator)