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Paul Allen, who cofounded Microsoft with Bill Gates, has died at age 65 after a battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, his family confirms to Business Insider.
Allen, a tech billionaire with a net worth pegged at some $ 20 billion, was a philanthropist, a Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers owner. He also operates Vulcan Ventures, a venture capital fund.
In native Seattle, Allen and Gates were childhood friends. In 1972, while still in high school, the peer launched Traf-o-Data, a software company that tracked and analyzed traffic patterns. When Gates went to Harvard, Allen stayed home and went to Washington State University, though he ended up dropping out.
It was Allen who suggested that the two work together to make a BASIC language interpreter for the then-cutting-edge Altair 8800 microcomputer, which became Microsoft's first-ever product. In fact, the name "Micro-Soft" for their joint venture was Allen's idea.
In addition, Allen was responsible for the key deal that made Microsoft a major player in the PC revolution: When Gates promised IBM that it would supply an operating system for its flagship PC, it was Allen who went and bought the rights to the "Quick and Dirty Operating System, "or QDOS, from developer Tim Paterson. Microsoft rebranded QDOS as MS-DOS, or the Microsoft Disk Operating System, and supplied it to IBM for the deal.
He was also known as a musician – Allen, a guitarist, fronted a band called The Underthinkers, and wrote or co-wrote every song on their 2013 album. He also founded Seattle's Experience Music Project, or EMP, which was originally a museum devoted to his hero Jimi Hendrix. Allen also started the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, in the same building as the EMP. The two has since been combined in the Museum of Pop Culture.
Allen was first diagnosed with cancer in 2009, and reported that it was returned after a period of remission. At the time, Allen said that he is planning to stay involved with his various business ventures. It was the third time that Allen has been diagnosed with some form of lymphoma. He survived Hodgkin's lymphoma after being diagnosed in the 1980s.
Lymphomas are cancers that attack the lymphatic system. Non-Hodgkin's is more common than Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Jody Allen, Paul's sister, issued the following statement:
Most of the time Paul Allen was a technologist and philanthropist, he was a much-loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend. warmth, his generosity, and deep concern For the time of loss and grievance – we are deeply grateful for the care and concern demonstrated every day. "
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella posted the following statement on LinkedIn:
Paul Allen's contributions to our company, our industry and our community are indispensable. As co-founder of Microsoft, in his own quiet and persistent way, he has created magical products, experiences and institutions, and in doing so, he has changed the world. I have learned so much from him – his inquisitiveness, curiosity and push for high standards is something that will continue to inspire me and all of us at Microsoft. Our hearts are with Paul's family and loved ones. Rest in peace.
Bill Hilf, the CEO of Allen 's Holding Company Vulcan Inc., issued the following statement:
"All of us who have had the honor of working with Paul Feel inexpressible loss today." He possessed a remarkable intellect and a passion to solve some of the world's most difficult problems, with the belief that creative thinking and new approaches could make lasting impact .
Millions of people were touched by his generosity, his persistence in a world of survival, and his ability to achieve his goal.
Paul's life was different and lived with gusto. It reflects its myriad interests in technology, music and the arts, bioscience and artificial intelligence, conservation and in the power of shared experience – in a stadium or neighborhood – to transform individual lives and whole communities.
Paul loved Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The impact of Paul's efforts can be seen here at every turn. But the true impact of his vision and generosity is evident around the globe.
Paul thoughtfully addressed how the many institutions would be established and continued. This is not the time to deal with those specifics as we focus on Paul's family. We will continue to work on further Paul's mission and the projects he entrusted to us. There are no changes imminent for Vulcan, the teams, the research institutes or museums.
Today we mourn our boss, mentor and friend whose 65 years were too short – and acknowledge the honor of the world. "
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