Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, dies of cancer at the age of 65

The co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen, has died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, said Vulcan Inc. on behalf of his family.

@steven_ballmer: Paul was a truly wonderful, brilliant and inspiring person – and a great friend. I will miss him

Steven Sinofsky, former president of Microsoft's Windows division, said that Allen "had done so much to shape lives with computer science and its subsequent work in the fields of science, community and technology. research".

@stevesi: Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, dies Paul was an original and a dear person who has contributed so much to shaping his life with computer science and his subsequent work in the fields of science, community and of research. I am so deeply saddened by his passing. We will miss him. Rest in peace Paul.

Allen is also ranked among the richest individuals in the world. As of Monday afternoon, he has ranked 44th on the Forbes billionaires list for 2018 with a net worth estimated at more than $ 20 billion. He also owned the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL and participated in the Seattle Sounders football team.

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– Matt Rosoff, Ryan Ruggiero and CNBC Reuters contributed to this report.