Paul Allen,
Co-Founder of Microsoft, speaks during an event at the 92nd Street Y in New
York, April 17, 2011.
Microsoft
Co-Founder Paul Allen died from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on
Monday afternoon.
Allen's
Vulcan Inc. announced that he died in Seattle at 65 years old.
Allen's
sister, Jody, said he was "a remarkable individual on every level."
"While
most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a
much-loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend. Paul's family and
friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep
concern," she said in a statement. "For all the demands on his
schedule, there was always time for family and friends. At this time of loss
and grief for us – and so many others – we are profoundly grateful for the care
and concern he demonstrated every day."
Allen ranked
among the world's wealthiest individuals. As of Monday afternoon, he ranked
44th on Forbes' 2018 list of billionaires with an estimated net worth of more
than $20 billion.
Through
Vulcan, Allen's network of philanthropic efforts and organizations, the
Microsoft co-founder supported research in artificial intelligence and new
frontier technologies. The group also invested in Seattle's cultural
institutions and the revitalization of parts of the city.
Allen owned
two professional sports teams, the NFL Seattle Seahawks and NBA Portland
Trailblazers. He was also an electric guitarist who occasionally jammed with
celebrity musicians including Bono and Mick Jagger, and a huge music fan. He
funded and designed the Experience Music Project in Seattle, devoted to the history
of rock music and dedicated to his musical hero Jimi Hendrix. (It has since
been re-christened the Museum of Pop Culture.) The building was designed by
architect Frank Gehry to resemble a melted electric guitar.
Vulcan CEO
Bill Hilf said, "All of us who 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 conviction that creative thinking and new
approaches could make profound and lasting impact," Hilf said in a
statement.
Earlier this
month, Allen revealed that he had started treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,
the same type of cancer he was treated for in 2009. In 1983, Allen left the
company he founded with Bill Gates when he was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's
disease, which he defeated.
Bill Gates,
who co-founded Microsoft with Allen, said that "personal computing would
not have existed without him":
"I am
heartbroken by the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends, Paul Allen.
From our early days together at Lakeside School, through our partnership in the
creation of Microsoft, to some of our joint philanthropic projects over the
years, Paul was a true partner and dear friend. Personal computing would not have
existed without him.
But Paul wasn't content with starting one
company. He channeled his intellect and compassion into a second act focused on
improving people's lives and strengthening communities in Seattle and around
the world. He was fond of saying, "If it has the potential to do good,
then we should do it." That's the kind of person he was.
Paul loved life and those around him, and we
all cherished him in return. He deserved much more time, but his contributions
to the world of technology and philanthropy will live on for generations to
come. I will miss him tremendously."
Current
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Allen made "indispensible"
contributions to Microsoft and the technology industry. Nadella also said he
learned a lot from Allen and will continue to be inspired by him.
"As
co-founder of Microsoft, in his own quiet and persistent way, he created
magical products, experiences and institutions, and in doing so, he changed the
world," Nadella said in a statement.
Former
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer called Allen a "truly wonderful, bright and
inspiring person."
Steven
Sinofsky, former president of Microsoft's Windows division, said Allen
"did so much to shape lives with computing and his later work in science,
community, and research."
Seahawks
Coach Pete Carroll said he was deeply saddened by Allen's death.
NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell said Allen was "the driving force behind
keeping the NFL in the Pacific Northwest." Goodell said he valued Allen's
advice on a wide range of subjects and sent his condolences.
"His
passion for the game, combined with his quiet determination, led to a model
organization on and off the field. He worked tirelessly alongside our medical
advisers to identify new ways to make the game safer and protect our players
from unnecessary risk" Goodell said in a statement.
The Trail
Blazers tweeted, "We miss you. We thank you. We love you."
Allen's
death was met with an outpouring of condolences from tech leaders. Google CEO
Sundar Pichai said with Allen's death, the world has "lost a great
technology pioneer today."
Apple CEO
Tim Cook called him a "pioneer" and a "force for good."
Salesforce
CEO Marc Benioff said he was saddened by Allen's passing.
Amazon CEO
Jeff Bezos praised his "relentless" push forward in technology:
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