How Much Was Paul Allen Worth When He Died

Let’s be honest: when someone asks, “How much was Paul Allen worth when he died?” the real question is, “How many zeroes are we talking about?” Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, wasn’t just rich; he was “buy-an-island-because-you’re-bored” rich. By the time he passed away in October 2018, his net worth was estimated at a cool $20.3 billion. That’s twenty billion, three hundred million dollars—a number so large it feels like a typo.

To put that in perspective: if you spent one dollar every single second, it would take you over 643 years to blow through Paul Allen’s fortune. You’d need to start spending in the year 1381, right around the time the Peasant’s Revolt was happening in England. So yeah, he had enough cash to outlast a medieval uprising.

But Wait—Wasn’t He the “Other” Guy?

Yes, Paul Allen was forever known as the quiet co-founder of Microsoft—the Bill Gates’ shadow. But while Bill was busy becoming the world’s richest man, Paul was busy spending his billions on things that would make a Bond villain jealous. He owned two massive yachts, one of which, the Octopus, was so big it had its own submarine, a basketball court, and a recording studio. Because nothing says “I’m rich” like recording an album underwater.

He also owned three professional sports teams: the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), and a piece of the Seattle Sounders (MLS). Fun fact: when he bought the Blazers in 1988, he paid about $70 million. By the time he died, that team alone was worth over $1.5 billion. So yes, he accidentally made another billion just by liking basketball.

The “Bored Billionaire” Portfolio

Paul Allen didn’t just collect sports teams and yachts; he collected entire collections of things. He owned a massive art collection, including works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Seurat. In fact, after his death, his art auction at Christie’s raked in $1.5 billion in a single night—the highest-ever total for a single collection. That’s more than most countries’ annual GDP.

Paul Allen, Microsoft Co-Founder, Dies at 65 | Industrial Equipment News

And let’s not forget his obsession with tech, science, and music. He founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science, the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and even started a company that built the world’s largest airplane (the Stratolaunch, which has a wingspan longer than a football field). Because why not? He also owned Jimi Hendrix’s personal guitar and a rare Stradivarius violin. The man basically said, “I’m going to buy everything that is awesome.”

So, How Did He Die with So Much Money?

Here’s the kicker: Paul Allen died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma at age 65. He had been battling cancer for years, and despite having unlimited resources, medicine couldn’t buy him more time. It’s a sobering punchline to a billionaire joke: you can own a 414-foot yacht, a space plane, and a guitar used by a rock god, but death doesn’t care about your net worth.

What was Paul Allen's cause of death and what was the Microsoft co

Still, he left behind a staggering legacy. He gave away over $2 billion to philanthropy during his life, and his estate continued donating after his death. His sister Jody Allen now oversees his empire, which includes the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers. So, his wealth didn’t just vanish—it became a permanent monument to a guy who loved bringing joy to people, even if that joy came in the form of a submarine parked next to a basketball court.

The Verdict: How Much Was He Worth?

In a word: a lot. More specifically, $20.3 billion when he shuffled off this mortal coil. But let’s be real—the number is almost meaningless. What matters is that Paul Allen used his fortune to fund brain research, protect endangered species, and ensure that a stadium full of screaming Seahawks fans could win a Super Bowl. He was the ultimate example of “money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a helicopter for your yacht, and that’s pretty close.”

So next time you wonder how much Paul Allen was worth when he died, remember: $20.3 billion. And also remember that he spent $200 million on a yacht just to have a place to park his submarine. That’s not just wealth—that’s weird, wonderful, billionaire-level audacity. RIP, Paul. Your zeroes will be missed.