PAUL ALLEN

Paul Gardner Allen (born January 21, 1953) is an American philanthropist, investor, musician, and innovator, best known as the co-founder of Microsoft alongside Bill Gates. As of July 2015, he was estimated to be the 51st richest person in the world, with an estimated wealth of $17.5 billion.

Allen is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc., which manages his various business and philanthropic efforts. Allen also has a multibillion-dollar investment portfolio including technology companies, real estate holdings, and stakes in other technology and media companies. He owns two professional sports teams, the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL), and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is part-owner of the Seattle Sounders FC, which joined Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2009.

He is also the founder of Allen Institute for Brain Science, the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the Allen Institute for Cell Science and Vulcan Aerospace.