Paul Allen, one of the most influential entrepreneurs and philanthropists of the 20th century, is best known as the co-founder of Microsoft. Alongside his high school friend Bill Gates, Allen helped create one of the world’s largest technology companies.
Allen was born in Seattle, Washington in 1953. He attended Lakeside School where he met Bill Gates and developed a passion for computers. After graduating high school in 1972, Allen went on to attend Washington State University for two years before dropping out to pursue his entrepreneurial venture with Gates.
The two officially founded Microsoft in 1975 and released their first product, BASIC interpreters for Altair 8800 computers, which became an instant success. With increasing demand for their software, Microsoft quickly rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS and Windows.
In 1982, Allen left the company after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Although he made a full recovery from his illness, he decided to focus on other ventures outside of Microsoft such as investments and real estate deals. He also became owner of NBA team Portland Trail Blazers and NFL team Seattle Seahawks.
Despite leaving Microsoft nearly four decades ago, Paul Allen remained a close friend to Bill Gates until his death in 2018 due to complications from cancer at age 65. During his lifetime he amassed a fortune estimated at more than $20 billion and promised to give away most of it via philanthropic projects such as helping foster innovation within scientific research and promoting education initiatives worldwide.
Paul Allen’s legacy lives on through the countless entrepreneurial minds he inspired across generations and the incredible work he did in promoting innovation within science while giving back to communities around the world through philanthropy.
What Happened to Microsoft Co-founder?
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, passed away on October 15th, 2018 at the age of 65. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2009 and died of septic shock related to cancer. Prior to his death, Allen had a successful career as an investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, ranging from 1972 to 2018. After dropping out of Washington State University in 1974, he founded Microsoft alongside Bill Gates and went on to become one of the wealthiest people in the world. Throughout his career, he made many donations to various charitable organizations and invested in various businesses. His legacy will live on through his contributions to technology and philanthropy.
Source: blogs.microsoft.com
Co-Founders of Microsoft
Microsoft was co-founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975. The two had previously worked together at the Lakeside School computer club, where they developed a version of the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800. Since then, Microsoft has become a global leader in software development, and Gates and Allen have both become some of the world’s wealthiest people as a result of their success at Microsoft.
Was Paul Allen a Billionaire?
Yes, Paul Allen was a billionaire. He had an estimated net worth of $20 billion when he passed away in 2018. Allen had amassed his fortune as co-founder of Microsoft, a technology investor, real estate magnate and owner of NFL and NBA teams. He founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975, and the company went public in 1986. Allen also invested in companies such as Vulcan Inc., a venture capital firm he founded to oversee his varios business and philanthropic ventures. In addition to his business investments, Allen owned the Seattle Seahawks football team and the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team. His philanthropy was extensive, with donations totaling more than $2 billion over his lifetime to causes such as education, scientific research, wildlife conservation and arts & culture.
Paul Allen’s Departure from Microsoft
Paul Allen left Microsoft in the early 1980s ater being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He had been struggling with a variety of health issues for some time, and the diagnosis was the impetus for him to step away from the company he had founded with Bill Gates. In addition to his health concerns, Allen felt that he was not able to contribute as much as he wanted to at Microsoft due to his illness, and so he decided to focus his energy on other endeavors. His departure left Gates in control of the company and allowed him to shape Microsoft into the powerhouse it is today.
Bill Gates’ Departure as CEO of Microsoft
In 2000, Bill Gates stepped down from his role as CEO of Microsoft to focus on the philanthropic work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. During his tenure as CEO, Gates had overseen Microsoft’s growth into one of the world’s largest and most successful technology companies. With the company on a strong footing and a new leader in place, Gates felt that it was time to shift his attention to supporting thse in need through his foundation. Throughout the following years, Gates continued to serve on Microsoft’s board of directors while gradually reducing his involvement with day-to-day operations. In 2008, he officially stepped down from all roles within Microsoft in order to devote more time and resources to the work of his foundation.
Source: npr.org
Does Bill Gates Still Own a Stake in Microsoft?
Yes, Bill Gates still owns Microsoft. He currently owns more than 1% of Microsoft’s shares, worth around twenty billion dollars. Gates has a lot of his financial investments held by a family office known as Cascade Investments, and he also has substantial real estate holdings and an extensive collection of collectibles. Although Gates is no longer actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, he remains one of Microsoft’s biggest shareholders and continues to have significant influence over the company.
The Biggest Shareholder of Microsoft
The biggest shareholder of Microsoft is its CEO, Satya Nadella, who owns more than 4.3 million shares of the company’s stock. This represents aound 1.3% of the total outstanding shares and gives him a net worth of around $48 billion. Vanguard Group Inc., the world’s largest asset manager, is the second-largest shareholder with 634 million shares, representing around 19% of the total outstanding shares. BlackRock Inc (BLK), one of the world’s leading investment management companies, is third with 531 million shares or 16% of the total outstanding shares. Following these three giants are Jean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft’s executive vice president and president for Europe, Middle East and Africa with 2.1 million shares; State Street Corp., a financial services company with 170 million shares; and Bradford L. Smith, Microsoft’s President and Chief Legal Officer, who holds 1.4 million shares in his own name. Together these six shareholders control almost 46% of Microsoft’s stock.
Who is the Owner of Bill Gates?
Bill Gates is the co-founder and Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, and he is also the co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He owns a significant portion of the company’s shares (approximately 4.48%), which makes him one of the largest individual shareholders in Microsoft. Additionally, Gates owns shares in several other companies, including Berkshire Hathaway, which is currently his largest holding with approximately 7 million shares with a market value of approximately $7 billion. Gates and Berkshire Hathaway founder Warren Buffett have been close friends for several decades.
Bill Gates: Microsoft Billionaire
Bill Gates bcame a billionaire from his investment in Microsoft, the software firm he co-founded with Paul Allen in 1975. With the immense success of Microsoft, Gates’ net worth skyrocketed and he eventually became one of the world’s richest men. His fortune is estimated to be around $125 billion, making him one of the wealthiest people on the planet. Throughout his career at Microsoft, Gates served as chairman, CEO, and chief software architect. He retired from both posts in 2014 but still serves on the company’s board of directors. In addition to his success at Microsoft, Gates has invested in numerous other companies and philanthropic efforts such as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Source: nytimes.com
Paul Allen’s IQ
Paul Allen is thought to have an IQ of between 160 and 170. The billionaire entrepreneur was born in Seattle in 1953 and famously attended school with his friend Bill Gates. After enrolling in Washington State University, Allen dropped out in 1974 and convinced Gates to leave Harvard to pursue their joint venture which became Microsoft. His impressive intellect has been attributed to his high IQ score, estimated between 160 and 170.
The Richest Man in the World
The world’s richest man in 2022 is Bernard Arnault & family, the CEO and Chair of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton). With a net worth of $180.2 billion, Arnault has overtaken Elon Musk as the world’s wealthiest individual.
Arnault’s business career began in 1971 when he joined his father’s construction and civil engineering company, Ferret-Savinel. In 1984, he purchased a controlling stake in the luxury goods company Financiere Agache and merged it with Boussac Saint-Freres to form what would beome the LVMH Group.
Since then, Arnault has built up a portfolio of over 70 brands including Christian Dior and Fendi as well as numerous hotels and resorts around the world. He has also diversified into other sectors such as technology, media and finance. He is also an advocate for environmental protection and was recently appointed president of Groupe Arnault which focuses on sustainability initiatives.
His remarkable success has made him one of the wealthiest people in the world and now he is officially the richest man on earth with a net worth well above that of Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk.
The Difference in Wealth Between Bill Gates and Paul Allen
Bill Gates is more richer than Paul Allen because of the different paths their careers took after forming Microsoft. When Gates and Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975, they both held significant equity in the company. However, Gates was more involved in the day-to-day operations of Microsoft, while Allen eventually stepped away from his role as vice president to pursue other business interests. This allowed Gates to take on a larger role and gain greater control over the company. As Microsoft grew and became one of the most successful technology companies in history, Gates’ wealth increased dramatically. Furthermore, he also made shrewd investments outside of Microsoft that further increased his fortune. On the other hand, Paul Allen’s wealth was largely dependent on his initial investment in Microsoft. While he sill has a significant stake in the company, most of his wealth has come from other investments such as sports teams, real estate and venture capital funds.
Bill Gates’ Best Friend
The best friend of Bill Gates is Warren Buffett. The two billionaires have forged a close friendship over the past 25 years, despite their age difference. Not only have they built two of the world’s most successful companies, Berkshire Hathaway and Microsoft, but they also share similar values and interests. They often discuss politics, philanthropy, economics and more. Gates has even said that Buffett is his “most important teacher.” Beyond business, the two often spend time together playing bridge or golfing on vacation.
Source: thurrott.com
Paul Allen’s Ownership of Microsoft
Paul Allen had a total of 12.3% ownership in Microsoft before selling a majority of his shares in 1994. He currently has no ownership in Microsoft, as he liquidated all his remaining shares by the end of 2016. His estate is now worth $20.3 billion, which is equivalent to the value of a 1% stake in Microsoft today. It’s estimated that Paul Allen lost out on $630 billion (97%) in potential gains from selling his stock.
Paul Allen’s Ownership Percentage of Microsoft
Paul Allen owned 36% of Microsoft at the end of their equity split. He initially had a 40% stake, but eventually agreed to a smaller 64-36 share with Bill Gates owning the larger portion. As the company started to gain more press attention, Gates became the public face of Microsoft, which left Allen feeling as if his role in the company was diminishing.
Conclusion
Paul Allen was a prominent figure in the technology industry as the co-founder of Microsoft. He and his Microsoft partner Bill Gates met in high school and founded the company in 1975, with Allen coming up with the name. Although he left the company in 1983 for health reasons, he continued to make significant investments and philanthropic contributions. Sadly, he passed away at age 65 due to septic shock related to cancer, but his legacy lives on through Microsoft’s success and his numerous charitable donations.
