Paul Allen Paul Gardner Allen ( born January 21 , 1953 ) is an American investor and philanthropist best known as the co - founder , with Bill Gates , of Microsoft Corporation . As of March 2012 , he was estimated to be the 48th richest person in the world , with an estimated wealth of $ 14 . 2 billion . He is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc . , which manages his various business and philanthropic efforts . Allen also has a multi - billion dollar investment portfolio which includes technology companies , real estate holdings , and stakes in other technology , media , and content companies . Allen also owns two professional sports teams , the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League ( NFL ) , and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He is also part - owner of the Seattle Sounders FC , which joined Major League Soccer ( MLS ) in 2009 . Allen ' s memoir " Idea Man : A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft " was released on April 19 , 2011 . The paperback version of " Idea Man " , which included a new epilogue , came out on October 30 , 2012 . Early life and career . Paul Allen was born in Seattle , Washington , to parents Kenneth Samuel Allen , an associate director of the University of Washington libraries , and Edna Faye ( née Gardner ) Allen , on January 21 , 1953 . Allen attended Lakeside School , a private school in Seattle , and befriended Bill Gates , who was almost three years younger and shared a common enthusiasm for computers . They used Lakeside ' s Teletype terminal to develop their programming skills on several time - sharing computer systems . After earning a perfect score of 1600 on the SAT , Allen attended Washington State University , where he was a member of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity but dropped out after two years in order to work as a programmer for Honeywell in Boston , placing him near his old friend again . Allen later convinced Gates to drop out of Harvard University in order to create Microsoft . Microsoft . Allen co - founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in Albuquerque , New Mexico , in 1975 , and began marketing a BASIC programming language interpreter . Allen came up with the original name of " Micro - Soft , " as recounted in a 1995 " Fortune " magazine article . In 1980 , after promising to deliver IBM a Disk Operating System ( DOS ) they had not yet developed for the Intel 8088 - based IBM PC , Allen spearheaded a deal for Microsoft to purchase a Quick and Dirty Operating System ( QDOS ) written by Tim Paterson who , at the time , was employed at Seattle Computer Products . As a result of this transaction , Microsoft was able to secure a contract to supply the DOS that would eventually run on IBM ' s PC line . This contract with IBM was the watershed in Microsoft history that led to Allen and Gates ' wealth . Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin ' s lymphoma in 1982 . His cancer was successfully treated by several months of radiation therapy . However , he did not return to Microsoft and began distancing himself from the company . Allen officially resigned from his position on the Microsoft Board of Directors in November 2000 but was asked to consult as a senior strategy advisor to the company ' s executives . He sold 68 million shares of Microsoft stock that year , but still owns a reported 138 million shares . Recognition . In 2007 and 2008 , Allen was listed among the " Time " 100 Most Influential People in The World . He received the Vanguard Award from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association on May 20 , 2008 . On October 30 , 2008 , the Seattle - King County Association of Realtors honored Allen for his “ unwavering commitment to nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest and lifetime giving approaching US $ 1 billion . ” Allen has received awards and honorary degrees from several universities . In May 1999 , Washington State University bestowed its highest honor , the Regents ' Distinguished Alumnus Award , upon him . He received a " Docteur honoris causa " from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne on March 31 , 2007 . On October 26 , 2008 , Allen was given the Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz for his " visionary achievements as a businessman and a global philanthropist . " Philanthropy . Paul Allen has made contributions to organizations related to health and human services , and toward the advancement of science and technology . The Paul G . Allen Family Foundation was established in 1986 to administer most of his contributions . Through the Foundation , Allen awards approximately $ 30 million in grants annually . Roughly 60 % of the Foundation ' s money goes to non - profit organizations in Seattle and the state of Washington , and 12 % to Portland , Oregon . The remaining 28 % is distributed to other cities within the Pacific Northwest and internationally . Since 1990 , The Paul G . Allen Family Foundation has awarded $ 428 million to non - profit organizations , as of 2010 . That includes charitable projects known as " venture philanthropy " . The most famous of these projects are the Experience Music Project , Seattle Cinerama Theatre , the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame , the Flying Heritage Collection ( airworthy vintage military aircraft ) and the Allen Telescope Array ( ATA ) . The ATA is a partnership between the University of California , Berkeley and the SETI Institute . Allen has a flower fly named after him for his contributions to Dipterology , called Paul Allen ' s flower fly . Allen has also funded the purchase of many Jimi Hendrix artifacts , including the guitar Hendrix played at Woodstock , and ensured their public display in the Experience Music Project exhibits . In December 2010 , it was announced that Allen had pledged $ 26 million to his alma mater , Washington State University , for its School for Global Animal Health . The gift will be the largest received by the university . In the late 1980s , Allen donated US $ 18 million to build a new library at the University of Washington , named after his father , Kenneth S . Allen . US $ 5 million was donated in 2003 to establish the Faye G . Allen Center for Visual Arts , named after his mother . Allen was also the top private contributor , with US $ 14 million in donations , and namesake , of the " Paul G . Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering " , which was designed by LMN Architects of Seattle and completed in 2003 . Throughout the years , Allen has contributed millions of US $ to the University of Washington Medical School . The foundation awarded US $ 3 . 2 million for prostatitis research in 1997 , followed by an additional $ 1 . 0 million grant in 2002 . More recently , the foundation contributed $ 5 . 0 million for an early cancer - detection project at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center . Along with his sister Jo Lynn , Allen pledged $ 100 million in 2003 to found the Allen Institute for Brain Science , a nonprofit corporation ( 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) ) and medical research organization . Utilizing the mouse model system ( given its great similarity to human DNA ) , 20 , 000 genes in the adult mouse brain were mapped to a cellular level for the Allen Brain Atlas . The data generated from this effort is contained in the free and publicly available Allen Brain Atlas application . On July 16 , 2008 , Allen launched a $ 41 million online " Allen Spinal Cord Atlas " mouse gene map . Allan Jones , chief scientific officer , said : " The Allen Spinal Cord Atlas offers profound potential for researchers to unlock the mysteries of the spinal cord and how it is altered during disease or injury . " The spinal cord atlas is set up like the Allen Institute ' s earlier atlas of the mouse brain . The Map could reveal new treatments for human neurological disorders . The map points researchers toward places where genes are active On November 19 , 2008 , Allen appeared at the Experience Music Project / Science Fiction Hall of Fame to present the second annual Founder ' s Award for musical achievement . The award was presented to Robbie Robertson , a founding member of the seminal 1960s band The Band and a noted composer of film scores . Allen founded the museum in 2000 . The award was presented as part of a gala benefit for EMP . The finale was a four - song set with all the evening ' s musicians on stage , including Allen and Robertson on guitar . Paul Allen is also a founding member of The International SeaKeepers Society and hosts its proprietary SeaKeeper 1000TM oceanographic and atmospheric monitoring system on all three of his megayachts . On November 15 , 2009 , Jody Allen , Paul Allen ' s sister and the CEO of Vulcan made public that Paul had been diagnosed with non - Hodgkin lymphoma , a form of cancer in the lymph system . Since October 2010 , he has been free of cancer . On May 24 , 2010 , Allen launched the Allen Human Brain Atlas , a publicly available online atlas charting genes at work throughout the human brain . The data provided represent the most extensive and detailed body of information about gene activity in the human brain to date , documenting which genes are expressed , or " turned on " where . A report in February , 2012 , named Allen as the most charitable living American in 2011 . Allen ' s donations , totaling $ 372 . 6 million , were beat out by only two others , both of them are deceased . In March 2012 he continued the funding of the Allen Institute for Brain Science with a contribution of $ 300 million to look at how we see . Patents . Paul Allen holds 42 patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office . Investments . Ticketmaster . In 1993 , Paul Allen invested $ 243 million to acquire 80 % of Ticketmaster . Under his ownership , Ticketmaster moved into the Internet in two phases : it started in June 1995 by displaying a searchable database of Ticketmaster ' s events ; on September 11 , 1996 , the first transaction came in . The company went public on 19 November 1996 . In 1997 , David Geffen introduced Barry Diller to Allen , who was increasingly frustrated at Fred Rosen , Ticketmaster ' s CEO , and was looking for a change at the helm . In May of that year , Home Shopping Network acquired 47 . 5 % of Allen ' s stock for $ 209 million worth of HSN stock . Interval Research Corporation . In 1992 , he and David Liddle cofounded Interval Research Corporation , a Silicon Valley - based laboratory and new business incubator that was dissolved in 2000 after generating over 300 patents , four of which were the subject of Allen ' s August 2010 patent infringement lawsuit against AOL , Apple , eBay , Facebook , Google , Netflix , Office Depot , OfficeMax , Staples , Yahoo ! , and YouTube . Spacecraft . Allen confirmed that he was the sole investor behind Burt Rutan ' s Scaled Composites ' SpaceShipOne suborbital commercial spacecraft on October 4 , 2004 . SpaceShipOne climbed to an altitude of and was the first privately funded effort to successfully put a civilian in suborbital space . It won the Ansari X Prize competition and received the $ 10 million prize . On December 13 , 2011 , Allen announced Stratolaunch Systems . Stratolaunch is a proposed orbital launch system consisting of a dual - bodied , 6 engine jet aircraft , capable of carrying a rocket to high altitude ; the rocket would then separate from its carrier aircraft and fire its own engines to complete its climb into orbit . The carrier aircraft would utilize carbon composites as well as 747 jet engines and parts . If successful , this project would be the first wholly privately funded space transport system . South Lake Union . Allen was a key developer and investor in the development of the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle as a biotechnology hub and mixed - use community . He was also the largest private landowner in South Lake Union and owns nearly in the neighborhood . His holdings company has a development capacity of more than of new residential , office , retail and biotech research space . The South Lake Union redevelopment represents one of the largest urban revitalization projects in the country . Allen has made investments estimated at US $ 200 million , and promoted for city funding of the Seattle Streetcar line known as South Lake Union Streetcar , which runs from Seattle ' s Westlake Center to the south end of Lake Union . The Streetcar is a public and private partnership made possible because of a Local Improvement District ( LID ) supported by businesses and residents along the line ; it officially started operation on December 12 , 2007 . This development has been criticized as a city - supported real estate investment for Vulcan Inc . , and concerns over the loss of low - income housing have been expressed . Octopus . The launch of Paul Allen ' s yacht , " Octopus " , secured its position as one of the world ' s largest yachts in 2003 . , it is 12th in the list of motor yachts by length . The yacht is equipped with two helicopters , two submarines , a swimming pool , a music studio and a basketball court . Allen also owns " Tatoosh " , also one of the world ' s 100 largest yachts . Allen is known for throwing huge , celebrity - studded parties on his yacht , such as a 2005 New Year ' s Eve party in which he and his band played Johnny Cash songs with R & B star Usher . His band also played at another party he hosted during the Cannes film festival with keyboardist Dave Stewart . Sports . Portland Trail Blazers . Allen purchased the Portland Trail Blazers NBA team in 1988 from California real estate developer Larry Weinberg for $ 70 million . He was also instrumental in the development and funding of their Rose Garden in 1993 . The Blazers are valued at approximately $ 300 million according to a 2006 issue of " Forbes " . Allen has been asking Portland and Oregon officials for assistance in the financing of the Blazers since 2006 , which he estimated would lose $ 100 million over the next three years . Then - Portland Mayor Tom Potter rebuffed the requests . Allen announced the completion of the acquisition of the Rose Garden on April 2 , 2007 , and stated that this was a major milestone and a positive step for the franchise . He said , “ My efforts are focused on continuing to support the Trail Blazers and the long - term financial health of the franchise . " As of 2010 , according to a 2011 issue of " Forbes " , the Portland Trail Blazers were worth $ 356 million , ranked No . 14 out of 30 NBA teams . Seattle Seahawks . Allen purchased the Seattle Seahawks NFL team in 1997 when former owner Ken Behring threatened to move the Seahawks to Southern California . Seattle Sounders . Allen ' s Vulcan Sports & Entertainment is part of the ownership team of the Seattle Sounders FC , a Major League Soccer franchise that began play in 2009 at CenturyLink Field , a stadium also controlled by Paul Allen . The ownership team also includes film producer Joe Roth , businessman Adrian Hanauer , and comedian Drew Carey . Sigi Schmid , two - time MLS Cup winner , is the team ’ s head coach . The Sounders sold out every home game during its first season , setting a new MLS record for average match attendance and the most season tickets sold in the league . The team finished the 2009 season with a winning record and qualified for the MLS playoffs , where they were eliminated in the conference semi - finals . Seattle Sounders FC is only the second expansion team in MLS history to win the U . S . Open Cup tournament in its first season , and in 2010 became the first team to repeat as U . S . Open Cup champion in almost three decades , in front of the largest crowd to ever witness a Lamar Hunt U . S . Open Cup Final in the history of the 97 - year - old tournament . Recognition . On January 26 , 2011 at Seattle ’ s Benaroya Hall , Paul Allen was named Seattle Sports Commission Sports Citizen of the Year , an award that has been renamed the Paul Allen Award . Filmmaking . Paul and Jo Lyn Allen are the owners and executive producers of Vulcan Productions , a filmmaking company headquartered in Seattle . Vulcan Productions ’ mission is to initiate , develop and finance independent film projects of substance and enduring significance . Their projects support the passionate vision of the artist , while challenging and celebrating the world of ideas and human values . Through their collaborative partnerships with established and emerging filmmakers , Vulcan Productions explores creative opportunities that result in engaging and inspirational storytelling . Their films have received prestigious recognition , ranging from a Peabody to Independent Spirit Awards to Golden Globes , Emmys and Grammys , and have also been nominated for Academy Awards , among many others . As of 2011 , Vulcan Productions ’ Web - based project , Success at the Core , is providing a comprehensive professional toolkit that helps middle school leadership teams and teachers elevate classroom instruction for significantly improved student success . " This Emotional Life " , a documentary series on psychology created by Vulcan Productions and the NOVA / WGBH Science Unit in 2010 , examines the human desire and struggle for happiness . This multi - platform project also includes pertinent resources for audiences , including innovative toolkits in the areas of early childhood attachment and the emotional health of military families — two areas covered in depth in the series . In March 2011 , Vulcan Productions ' " This Emotional Life " won three medals at the 2011 New York Festivals Television and Film Awards - Gold World Medals in the Documentaries and Health / Medical Information categories , and a Silver World Medal in the Direction category for the episode " Facing Our Fears " .