Paul Allen

Paul Allen loved computers.

He and his friend Bill Gates started Microsoft. This company helped make many computers work.

Paul also liked to explore the ocean. He found old ships that sank long ago. He gave much money to help the world. He helped people study the brain.

He even helped build a very large plane. This plane has the widest wings ever seen. He was a very busy man.

Paul Allen was a man of many interests.

He loved computers and coding. As a student, he met Bill Gates. They liked to study computer systems together. In 1975, they started Microsoft.

This company helped make the computer revolution happen. Allen also loved the ocean. He found the wrecks of famous warships.

He used his wealth to help many people. He gave over $2 billion to many causes. This included helping with art and the environment. He also started the Allen Institutes. These groups study the brain and cells.

He even helped with space travel. He funded SpaceShipOne, a private spacecraft. He also started Stratolaunch. This company made a very large plane.

This plane has the largest wingspan in history.

Allen faced health challenges too. He had Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. He died in 2018 at age 65. He died from septic shock related to his cancer. He was one of the richest people in America.

Paul Allen was a man who changed how we use technology and explore the world.

He was a businessman, a programmer, and a very successful investor. He is most famous for helping to start the microcomputer revolution. This was a time when computers became small enough for people to use. He also spent much of his life exploring the deep ocean. Allen found the wrecks of famous warships like the USS Indianapolis. His many interests made him one of the richest people in American history.

His journey into technology began with a simple friendship. While attending Lakeside School, he met a boy named Bill Gates. They both loved computers and spent time learning how to write code. They even used university laboratories to practice their programming skills. In 1975, they formed a company called Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Allen came up with the name by joining "microcomputer" and "software." They created a programming language called BASIC for early computers. This work helped make Microsoft a huge success.

Allen's life was full of many different types of work. He did not just stay in the world of computers. He started a company called Vulcan Inc. to manage his many businesses. This included investing in media, real estate, and even sports teams. He owned the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers. He also loved science and wanted to help people learn more. He founded the Allen Institutes to study the brain and cell science.

Space travel was another big passion for him. In 2004, he was the only person to fund SpaceShipOne. This was a private spacecraft that carried a person into space. Later, he started a company called Stratolaunch Systems. They built a very special airplane to help launch rockets.

This plane was built to carry a rocket high into the sky. Once it was high enough, the rocket would separate and fly into orbit. In 2019, this aircraft made its first flight. It became the largest airplane in history because of its huge wingspan.

Even though he was very successful, Allen faced hard times with his health. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a type of cancer. He left his daily work at Microsoft to focus on his health. Sadly, he died on October 15, 2018, at the age of 65. He died from septic shock related to his cancer. Throughout his life, he gave more than $2 billion to help the world. He supported education, the arts, and protecting wildlife and the environment.

Paul Allen was a prominent American businessman, investor, and computer programmer. He played a foundational role in the microcomputer revolution during the 1970s and 1980s.

By co-founding Microsoft Corporation, he helped change how technology is used globally. Beyond software, Allen was a deep-sea explorer and a major supporter of scientific research. His diverse interests allowed him to influence many different fields, from professional sports to aerospace engineering. At the time of his death, he was ranked as one of the wealthiest individuals in American history.

Allen's career in technology began with a close friendship at Lakeside School in Seattle. There, he met Bill Gates, and the two shared a deep interest in computers. They practiced programming using Teletype terminals and even used University of Washington laboratories.

In 1975, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to form Microsoft. Allen chose the name "Micro-Soft" as a combination of "microcomputer" and "software." Their first major success involved developing a BASIC programming language interpreter. This tool was essential for the early microcomputers of that era.

To secure Microsoft's future, Allen led a critical business move regarding operating systems. In 1980, Microsoft committed to providing a disk operating system, known as DOS, for the IBM PC. Allen spearheaded a deal to purchase QDOS, or "Quick and Dirty Operating System," from Tim Paterson.

This transaction allowed Microsoft to supply the software that ran IBM's computers. This success created immense wealth for the founders. As the company grew, it restructured into Microsoft Corporation, Inc. in 1981. Allen served as executive vice president and vice chairman during this period.

Allen's professional life changed significantly due to his health. In 1983, he stepped away from daily operations at Microsoft following a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. He remained on the board of directors as vice chairman for many years.

Later, in 2009, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He passed away on October 15, 2018, at age 65. His death was caused by septic shock related to his cancer. Despite these challenges, he continued to manage his vast interests through Vulcan Inc., a company he founded with his sister, Jody Allen.

Through Vulcan Inc., Allen managed a multi-billion dollar investment portfolio. This portfolio included technology, media, and real estate holdings. He was also a major figure in professional sports. Allen owned the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL and the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA.

His ownership of the Seahawks included periods of great success. Under the Allen Estate, the team won Super Bowl XLVIII and Super Bowl LX. He also owned a part of the Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.

Allen was deeply committed to advancing human knowledge through science. He established the Allen Institutes for Brain Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Cell Science. These institutes aim to study the complexities of biology and technology.

He also funded the first crewed private spaceplane, SpaceShipOne, in 2004. This project won the $10 million Ansari X Prize. Later, he founded Stratolaunch Systems to develop a new way to reach space.

This system used a massive aircraft to carry rockets to high altitudes.

One of his most impressive engineering feats was the Stratolaunch aircraft. This plane was designed to carry a rocket to a high altitude before releasing it. The rocket would then ignite its own engines to reach orbit.

In April 2019, the aircraft completed its first flight. It became the largest aircraft in history based on its wingspan. This project represented his vision for making space travel more accessible. Throughout his life, Allen donated more than $2 billion to various causes. These included education, the arts, healthcare, and environmental conservation.