How much is Paul Allen Worth? Paul Allen Net Worth in 2026

By the Alux Research Team. How we estimate net worth

Paul Allen’s net worth at the time of his death was estimated at about $20.5 billion. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975, then built a wide portfolio through his company Vulcan Inc. He died on October 15, 2018, and in 2026 his estate completed the sales of both the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks.

Net worth	About $20.5 billion at the time of death (estimates vary)
Estimated annual income	Mainly from Microsoft shares, investments and the businesses he owned, such as the Vulcan portfolio
Born	January 21, 1953, Seattle, Washington
Died	October 15, 2018, Seattle, Washington, aged 65
Country	United States
Occupations / sources of wealth	Microsoft co-founder, investor, sports team owner, philanthropist
Known for	Co-founding Microsoft, owning the Seahawks and Trail Blazers, and funding scientific research

How much was Paul Allen worth?

Paul Allen’s net worth at the time of death was estimated at about $20.5 billion, which placed him among the wealthiest people in the world. Most of that wealth traced back to his early stake in Microsoft, later supplemented by investments in cable, media, real estate and technology.

Estimates vary, and the figure is an approximation based on public information. His estate has continued to be managed by his sister, Jody Allen, who was named executor and trustee.

Legacy and estate

• Fund for Science and Technology (August 2025): launched with an initial endowment of $3.1 billion, with plans to deploy at least $500 million.
• Philanthropy (2016 to 2026): Allen Family Philanthropies has reportedly given more than $500 million to nonprofits.
• Portland Trail Blazers (2026): the estate sold the NBA team to a group led by Tom Dundon.
• Seattle Seahawks (2026): after the team won Super Bowl LX, the estate reportedly sold it to an investor group led by the Khosla family for about $9.6 billion, a reported record for an NFL franchise.
• Art collection (November 2022): the auction of his art collection reportedly exceeded $1.5 billion, the largest in auction history.
• Seattle Cinerama (2023): sold to the Seattle International Film Festival.

How Paul Allen made money

• Microsoft: he held about 25.2% of the company when it went public in 1986, and stayed on its board until 2000.
• Vulcan Inc.: founded in 1986 with his sister Jody Allen to manage his business and philanthropic efforts, including Vulcan Capital and Vulcan Real Estate.
• Cable and media: a controlling interest in Charter Communications (1998) and an 80% stake in Ticketmaster (1993).
• Sports teams: the Portland Trail Blazers (bought 1988), the Seattle Seahawks (bought 1997) and part of Seattle Sounders FC.
• Technology and other investments: early investments included AOL, and he held 43 patents.

Career timeline

1. 1972: formed Traf-O-Data with Bill Gates to build traffic counters.
2. 1975: co-founded Microsoft with Gates in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
3. 1981: became executive vice president and vice chairman as Microsoft incorporated in Washington.
4. 1986: founded Vulcan Inc.
5. 1988: bought the Portland Trail Blazers.
6. 1993: acquired an 80% stake in Ticketmaster.
7. 1997: bought the Seattle Seahawks.
8. 1998: bought a controlling interest in Charter Communications.
9. 2000: resigned from Microsoft’s board and became a senior strategy advisor; opened the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle.
10. 2003: launched the Allen Institute for Brain Science.
11. 2004: funded SpaceShipOne, which won the Ansari X Prize.
12. 2010: signed The Giving Pledge.
13. 2011: published his memoir Idea Man and announced Stratolaunch Systems.
14. 2014: founded the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence; the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII.
15. 2018: died on October 15 in Seattle.

Early life and background

Paul Allen was born in Seattle, Washington, the son of Sam Allen and Edna Faye Allen. He attended Lakeside School, where he befriended Bill Gates, who was three years younger. The two shared a love of computers and used the school’s Teletype terminal and a University of Washington computer lab to develop their programming skills.

After graduating with a perfect SAT score of 1600, Allen enrolled at Washington State University, where he joined a fraternity, and dropped out after two years. He then worked as a programmer for Honeywell in Boston, near where Gates was studying at Harvard. Allen persuaded Gates to leave Harvard and start Microsoft, and he is credited with coming up with the original name, Micro-Soft.

Personal life

Allen was a philanthropist who reportedly gave more than $2 billion over his lifetime across science, education, conservation, arts and community services. He also funded the research vessel RV Petrel, which located wrecks including the battleship Musashi and USS Indianapolis.

Paul Allen net worth FAQ

What was Paul Allen’s net worth when he died?

Paul Allen’s net worth at the time of his death was estimated at about $20.5 billion. Estimates vary.

How did Paul Allen make his money?

Mainly through his stake in Microsoft, which he co-founded with Bill Gates, and later through investments held via Vulcan Inc., including cable, media and sports teams.

When did Paul Allen die?

Paul Allen died on October 15, 2018, in Seattle, Washington, at age 65.

Where was Paul Allen from?

He was born in Seattle, Washington, on January 21, 1953, and attended Lakeside School there.

What happened to Paul Allen’s sports teams?

In 2026 his estate sold the Portland Trail Blazers to a group led by Tom Dundon, and reportedly sold the Seattle Seahawks to an investor group led by the Khosla family.

How is Paul Allen’s net worth estimated?

It is estimated from public reporting on his Microsoft stake, company valuations, investments and asset sales. It is an approximation.

Related profiles

• Bill Gates net worth
• Steve Ballmer net worth
• Michael Dell net worth
• Larry Ellison net worth
• Steve Wozniak net worth

How we estimate net worth

Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.

Last updated: October 2026.