Paul Allen: His Life, Death, and $20.3 Billion Net Worth

Few people have shaped modern computing as quietly as Paul Allen. As the co-founder of Microsoft, he helped launch an industry, yet much of his life unfolded away from the spotlight.

Full name: Paul Gardner Allen ·
Born: January 21, 1953 ·
Died: October 15, 2018 ·
Net worth at death: $20.3 billion ·
Known for: Co-founding Microsoft ·
Cause of death: Complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Six key facts that define Paul Allen’s life and legacy at a glance.

What was Paul Allen’s cause of death?

Paul Allen died from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, specifically septic shock, on October 15, 2018, at age 65 (Wikipedia). He had initially been diagnosed with this cancer in 2009, underwent treatment, and experienced a recurrence in 2018 that proved fatal. Earlier, in 1982, Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (a different disease) and was successfully treated with radiation therapy (Wikipedia).

How long can you live with lymphoma?

• Survival depends on type and stage. For Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the 5-year survival rate is about 88% in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma has a 5-year survival rate of about 73%, but aggressive subtypes like the one Allen had can be more dangerous (Wikipedia)
• Allen lived 9 years after his 2009 diagnosis, longer than many with aggressive forms

What were the complications of his illness?

The immediate cause listed was septic shock, a life-threatening drop in blood pressure due to infection, related to the lymphoma (Wikipedia). His non-Hodgkin lymphoma had spread rapidly after recurrence, weakening his immune system.

What this means: Paul Allen’s death was not immediate; it followed a prolonged battle with two cancers, highlighting the unpredictability of lymphoma.

Was Paul Allen a billionaire?

Yes, Paul Allen was a billionaire. At his death, Forbes estimated his net worth at $20.3 billion, ranking him among the wealthiest people in the world (Wikipedia). His wealth came primarily from his Microsoft stake and later investments through Vulcan Inc.

What was Paul Allen’s net worth?

• $20.3 billion at death (Forbes via Wikipedia)
• He was a signatory of the Giving Pledge in 2010, committing to give away most of his wealth (The Seattle Times)
• He gave more than $2 billion to causes during his lifetime (Wikipedia)

Who got Paul Allen’s estate?

His estate was largely left to his sister Jody Allen and various trusts. The will placed most assets into a living trust established in 1993, with Jody Allen named as trustee (The Seattle Times). The estate included a major art collection valued at about $1 billion (Colonial Surety Company), and his sports franchises—the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers—were sold posthumously.

The implication: Allen’s wealth, while vast, is now subject to his sister’s stewardship, with potential for either continued philanthropy or family retention.

Why didn’t Paul Allen ever marry?

Paul Allen never married and had no children, a fact that has intrigued many. He remained fiercely private about his personal life, rarely discussing relationships in interviews (Wikipedia).

Did Paul Allen have children?

• No children — confirmed by all biographical sources (Wikipedia)
• His estate passes to his sister and trusts, not descendants

What is Paul Allen’s religion?

Allen did not publicly emphasize religion. Some sources list him as atheist or agnostic, but no official statement was ever made (Wikipedia). What is clear is that his philanthropy focused on science, technology, and the arts, not faith-based causes.

The pattern: Allen’s personal life remained opaque, even as he funded public institutions; his privacy was a consistent theme.

Is Bill Gates still friends with Paul Allen?

The friendship between Bill Gates and Paul Allen is one of the most famous partnerships in tech history, but it had fractures. They met at Lakeside School in Seattle and bonded over computer programming (Wikipedia).

What happened to Paul Allen’s and Bill Gates’ friendship?

• They co-founded Microsoft in 1975 (Wikipedia)
• Allen left Microsoft in 1983 after his Hodgkin’s diagnosis, though he remained a consultant and board member until 2000 (EBSCO Research Starters)
• A falling out occurred in the 1980s, reportedly over Allen’s departure and stock dilution issues (Wikipedia)
• They reconciled later. Gates visited Allen shortly before his death and called him “one of my oldest and dearest friends” (Wikipedia)

Did they reconcile before his death?

Yes. Bill Gates publicly mourned Allen, saying: “I am heartbroken by the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends.” (Wikipedia) This statement signaled a final reconciliation after years of tension.

The catch: While publicly reconciled, the depth of their later friendship remains ambiguous, as Allen’s memoirs suggest lingering resentment.

Does Paul Allen still own Microsoft?

Paul Allen remained a major Microsoft shareholder long after leaving the board in 2000 (EBSCO Research Starters). He sold most of his shares over time, but still held a significant position at his death.

What happened to Paul Allen’s Microsoft shares?

• After leaving the board in 2000, he gradually sold shares, but still owned some at death (Wikipedia)
• His estate, managed by Vulcan Inc., has since sold remaining holdings (Intelliversity)
• Microsoft stock has risen dramatically since its 1986 IPO; had he held all his shares, they would be worth tens of billions more

The implication: Allen’s decision to sell most of his Microsoft stock early cost him billions in potential appreciation, a cautionary case for early investors.

What this means: The known facts are solid, but the gaps in Allen’s story—especially his relationships and belief system—leave room for interpretation.

Quotes that capture a life

I am heartbroken by the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends.

Bill Gates, via Wikipedia

Paul Allen, who cofounded Microsoft with Bill Gates and later became a philanthropist and sports team owner, died on Oct. 15, 2018 at age 65.

Forbes profile, via Wikipedia

The two quotes frame the narrative: a man of immense achievement and a friend who mourned him publicly. For those looking at Paul Allen’s life and wondering how to build their own legacy, the story offers a clear trade-off. For the aspiring entrepreneur, the lesson is that partnerships matter but can fracture. For the philanthropist, the path is that wealth can be directed toward science and the arts. For the reader simply curious about a figure like JoJo Siwa’s net worth or Mike Mentzer’s life story, the biographical structure is the same: begin with facts, end with consequences. For Paul Allen, the consequence is clear: a $20.3 billion fortune distributed by his sister, a philanthropic machine still running, and a medical battle that ultimately defined his final chapter.

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