co founder of microsoft yacht

Entrepreneur and investor Paul Allen was best known for being one of the co-founders of Microsoft with Bill Gates.

(1953-2018)

Who Was Paul Allen?

Born on January 21, 1953, in Seattle, Washington, Paul Allen met fellow Lakeside School student and computer enthusiast Bill Gates when Allen was 14 and Gates was 12. Less than a decade later, in 1975, college drop-outs Allen and Gates founded Microsoft. Allen resigned after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 1983 and continued to pursue other business, research and philanthropic opportunities.

How Did Paul Allen and Bill Gates Meet?

While attending the Lakeside School outside Seattle, 14-year-old Allen met 12-year-old Bill Gates , a fellow student and computer enthusiast. Less than a decade later, in June 1975, Allen and Gates, both dropped out of college. Allen, who was from Washington State University, founded Microsoft with the intention of designing software for the new wave of personal computers.

By the time Allen arranged for Microsoft to buy an operating system called Q-DOS for $50,000, the company had already supplied software for emerging companies such as Apple and Commodore. Gates and Allen reinvented Q-DOS as MS-DOS and installed it as the operating system for IBM's PC offering, which dominated the market after its release in 1981.

Microsoft and Vulcan Ventures

As Microsoft grew and its stock steadily rose, Allen's share in the company he co-founded made him a billionaire at just over 30 years of age. In 1983, Allen, known as the "idea man" counterpart to Gates' "man of action," resigned from Microsoft after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. After undergoing several months of radiation treatment, his health was restored.

Post Microsoft, Allen began to concentrate on other projects, hoping to find the next big idea lurking somewhere just out of sight. In 1986, he set up a company called Vulcan Ventures to research possible investments; to that end, he founded a Silicon Valley think tank in 1992 called Interval Research. Through Interval Research and Vulcan Ventures, Allen began to put his long-term dream of a wired world society — in which virtually everyone is online — into practice.

Diverse Investments

His investments were diverse: America Online, SureFind (an online classified ads service), Teluscan (an online financial service), Starwave (an online content provider), hardware, software and wireless communications. From 1994 to 1998, Allen built an infrastructure of well over 30 different companies in pursuit of his "wired world" strategy. With Vulcan's 1998 purchases of Marcus Cable and more than 90 percent of Charter Communications, Allen became the owner of the nation's seventh-largest cable company. In 1999, he invested nearly $2 billion in the RCN corporation, bringing his total holdings in the cable and Internet businesses to over $25 billion.

He also invested a good deal in the production of interactive media and entertainment. In total, Allen had major investments in over 100 "new media" companies. In 1993, he acquired 80 percent of Ticketmaster until he sold over half of his stock to the Home Shopping Network (HSN) in 1997. In late 1999, Allen and Vulcan Ventures agreed to fund POP.com, an Internet entertainment company formed as a partnership between two prominent production companies: Imagine Entertainment, founded by director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer, and DreamWorks SKG, founded by entertainment giants Steven Spielberg , Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen .

Allen, already an investor in DreamWorks, reportedly invested $50 billion in the company, which aims to create and distribute short features exclusively on the Internet. POP.com was set to debut in the spring of 2000, but failed to get off the ground. Allen has also invested in Oxygen Media, a highly-touted company co-founded by Oprah Winfrey and dedicated to producing cable and Internet programming for women.

Other Interests: Seattle Seahawks, Experience Music Project & More

Allen's other personal and philanthropic interests included sports (he owned the NBA's Portland Trailblazers and the NFL's Seattle Seahawks) and music. On June 23, 2000, his Experience Music Project, a $250 million interactive rock 'n' roll museum designed by the architect Frank O. Gehry , opened in Seattle. Allen co-founded EMP with his sister, Jody Allen Patton, who serves as the museum's president of the board of trustees. In April 2003, he announced he would be spending $20 million to build the Science Fiction Experience, which opened in the summer of 2004. The museum was billed as "entertaining and thought-provoking exhibits and programs." Allen had also established philanthropic foundations for the causes of medical research, visual and performing arts, community service, and forest preservation.

Playing Guitar

A dedicated Jimi Hendrix enthusiast since he first saw Hendrix perform in 1969, Allen played rhythm guitar in a Seattle band called Grown Men; the band released their first CD in the spring of 2000. In 2013, Allen released another album with his band the Underthinkers called Everywhere at Once through Sony.

Later Career

On May 29, 2013, it was announced that Vulcan Productions, Allen's award-winning media company, had signed on as a production partner of Pandora's Promise , the groundbreaking documentary by Academy Award-nominated director Robert Stone. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, and was scheduled to debut in the United States in November 2013.

According to a press release issued by Vulcan Productions in May 2013, Stone's film tells the "intensely personal stories of environmentalists and energy experts who have converted from being fiercely anti to strongly pro-nuclear energy, risking their careers and reputations in the process." Stone exposes this environmental controversy with stories of defection by Stewart Brand, Richard Rhodes, Gwyneth Cravens, Mark Lynas and Michael Shellenberger, among others.

" Pandora's Promise presents nuclear power as a hopeful solution to climate change, and is opening people’s minds about one of the most critical issues of our time," Allen stated. "This is exactly the type of thought-provoking project we are proud to partner on and support." Acclaimed films and series from Vulcan Productions include Girl Rising (2013); This Emotional Life (2010); Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial (2007); Rx for Survival: A Global Health Challenge (2005); No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005); Strange Days on Planet Earth (2005); Black Sky: The Race For Space , and Black Sky: Winning the X Prize (2004); Lightning in a Bottle (2004); The Blues (2003); and Evolution (2001).

In 2014, Allen pledged $100 million to combat Ebola in West Africa. That same year, he founded the Allen Institute for Cell Science, which researches cells in order to understand their behavior in how to fight diseases. Allen has also taken interest in space time travel and launched Vulcan Aerospace in 2015.

Allen lived on Lake Washington's Mercer Island, near Seattle.

Paul Allen Yacht

Loaned for rescue missions and scientific explorations, Allen's yacht, the Octopus , is one of the largest in the world at over 400 feet long, equipped with two helicopter pads, a pool and two submarines.

Battle with Cancer and Death

In the fall of 2009, Allen received another blow to his health: he had developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and had to undergo more radiation treatments. Luckily, Allen beat this cancer diagnosis as well. However, in October 2018, Allen revealed that he started treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He passed away on October 15, 2018, from complications of the disease.

QUICK FACTS

• Birth Year: 1953
• Birth date: January 21, 1953
• Birth State: Washington
• Birth City: Seattle
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Entrepreneur and investor Paul Allen was best known for being one of the co-founders of Microsoft with Bill Gates.
• Internet/Computing
• Washington State University
• Lakeside School
• Death Year: 2018
• Death date: October 15, 2018
• Death State: Washington
• Death City: Seattle

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Paul Allen Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/paul-allen
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: April 1, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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The amazing superyachts of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen

$300m of pure nautical grandeur.

Words: Josh Lee

The world’s richest men have some pretty interesting retail habits. It’s reported that Jay Leno, for example, owns just under 300 vehicles; John Malone , the single largest landlord in America, possesses around 2.2m acres of terrain; Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, however, sticks to splurging on yachts. $300m-worth of mega yachts, to be precise. And, with a real time net worth of $20.8b in his pocket, do you really blame him?

We dive into the specifics of his vessel collection.

Cost: approximately $200m. It was custom-built by German shipbuilders Lürssen (the company that crafted the Azzam, the world’s largest private yacht), and after several years of construction it was launched in 2003.

Cost of operation: on average, yacht owners tend to pay around 10% of the original purchase price each year for maintenance and on-board operations. By that logic, Allen pays around $20m per annum in order to keep his vessel in pristine shape and he currently employs 60 permanent staffers, including engineers, chefs and captains.

Accommodates: 26 guests in 41 suites.

Specs: this behemoth is 414-foot and weighs over 9,000 tonnes. When it launched, it was the biggest private yacht in the world. Even the tender – the boat that takes guests from boat to shore – is 63-foot long.

Comes with: pool, two helipads (one at the front and back), basketball court, recording studio (which was used by Mick Jagger in 2011), cinema, jet-ski dock, glass-bottom pool and bar. There are also two submarines inside: one of them, Pagoo, can carry ten people and dive for eight hours; the other, the Octo Rov, can dive up to 8,843 feet, can be remotely controlled and has also been used for a documentary on the Discovery Science Channel.

This vessel isn’t just for leisure: in 2012, the Royal Navy borrowed it in order to find a bell from a British WWII-era battleship. That same year, it was also used to search for a missing American pilot and two officers whose plane disappeared off Palau. Octopus is also part of the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER), meaning it can be used to assist other ships in hazardous situations.

Cost: Approximately $100m. It was built by 112-year-old shipyard Nobiskrug in Rendsburg, Germany and was finished in June, 2000. The design and construction was by Kusch Yachts. A year after she was constructed, Tatoosh was purchased by Allen.

Accommodates: 20 guests in ten cabins.

Specs: this gargantuan sea beast is 303-foot, making it the 43rd-largest superyacht in the world. It can go 15 knots while cruising and has a range of 5,000 nautical miles.

Cost of operation: approximately $10m a year is spent on upkeep and for running a crew of 35 members.

Comes with: a cinema, two helipads, custom 46 power and sailboats, shaded swimming pool , a saloon with a French limestone fireplace, a dining area, a master suite and five decks.

This vessel has caused some controversy: at the beginning of 2016, it was reported that the Tatoosh destroyed around 80% of a protected coral reef in the Cayman Islands. It’s said that the accident was caused by the yacht’s chain when it anchored near The Knife dive site. Four months later, the Department of Environment and Allen’s Vulcan Inc. completed a restoration plan to help to save the injured coral.

Now read about the world’s most insane superyachts

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More From Forbes

Microsoft cofounder paul allen’s 414-foot-long explorer yacht ‘octopus’ is for sale.

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Paul Allen's 414-foot-long superyacht Octopus is one of the largest private yachts in the world

It’s well known that Microsoft cofounder, investor and philanthropist Paul Allen lived a big life before he died of cancer last year at the age of 65. He was also an ocean explorer who’d travelled the world’s ocean’s aboard his 414-foot-long Explorer Yacht Octopus since it was launched back in 2003. And now that the yacht is for sale , it might be pretty hard to top Allen’s list of adventures that include:

Look closely at this photo that shows one of Octopus' two hell-pads, large pool and ample sun decks.

exploring the coast of Antarctica, traversing the Northwest Passage and recovering the ship’s bell from the wreck of HMS Hood at a depth of 2.8km (1.7 miles) for the Royal Navy.

Paul Allen hosted a star-studded party aboard Octopus off Cannes last year. (Photo by Dave ... [+] Benett/Getty Images)

Then again, with accommodation for up to 26 guests in 13 cabins, and 63 crew in 30 cabins, Octopus ’ new owner may not need to “discover” anything except a peaceful anchorage in the South Pacific for the ultimate escape.

This shot shows just how large and well-equipped for ocean exploration Octopus is. Notice the crew ... [+] members on the back of the boat (and on Octopus' large personal submarine) to get a sence of scale.

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The yacht has an entire deck dedicated owner. It has a private bar and hot tub forward and private al fresco dining area aft to provide the owner with a sanctuary of privacy and security. While the yacht has two elevators servicing the guest areas onboard, one is dedicated to the owner’s exclusive use for travel throughout the yacht with discretion and ease. 

Paul Allen's 414-foot long superyacht and it's helicopter on the bow.

On the bridge deck below, guests have plenty of room for outdoor entertainment including a large pool aft along with al fresco dining, a bar and pizza oven. Just beneath the bridge deck is a deck dedicated solely to entertainment where guests can enjoy a range of facilities including a spa, library and bar, cinema, gym, multiple lounges including a forward-facing observation area and a basketball court on the deck below. There is also a glass-bottomed observation lounge in the tank deck. 

Paul Allen's Octopus and its armada of support boats.(Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

In addition to seven tenders, two life rafts, an ROV capable of diving to 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) and several jet skis, Octopus is also capable of housing an SUV and two helicopters in the garage (one each for the fore and aft helipads), and its stern-access dock is home to a 13meters (42.6 feet) Hinckley Talaria tender and Pagoo, a submarine accommodating eight guests and two crew that can dive for up to eight hours. A dive center and hyperbaric chamber are also on board, along with a beach club with bar on the starboard side.

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Mega yacht Octopus of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for sale

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Written by Rachael Steele

Lürssen mega yacht OCTOPUS , which belonged to the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, has been put up for sale at an estimated €295,000,000 (approximately $332,000,000 USD).

Paul Allen’s yacht OCTOPUS listed for sale

Allen, who passed away from cancer in 2018, owned a number of vessels but at a length of 126m/413ft M/Y OCTOPUS was his flagship and remains one of the world’s largest motor yachts, currently sitting at no. 22 in the overall rankings.

M/Y OCTOPUS was built in 2003 and from November 2018 to July 2019 she underwent an eight-month refurbishment at the Blohm + Voss facilities, including her 15-year surveys, to prepare her for sale. Her exteriors come from renowned designer Espen Oeino and the interiors from Seattle-based Jonathan Quinn Barnett , who had an impressive interior volume of 9,932 GT to furnish.

Although Paul Allen used the vessel as a recording studio and for private parties with the likes of U2, Sharon Stone and Mick Jagger, he is most well-known for his philanthropic endeavours and M/Y OCTOPUS was used as a research vessel along with several other motor yachts in his fleet, and was critical to the retrieval of the bell from HMS HOOD, which was sunk by the German battleship BISMARCK, as well as discovering the wrecks of the WWII Japanese warship MUSASHI.

Superyacht Octopus

The accommodation is designed for up to 26 guests over 13 spacious en-suite cabins, and in addition to the Master suite there is a VIP stateroom and a children’s cabin. The experienced crew of 63 is ready to pull off a glamorous party or to navigate to the farthest corners of the world for research purposes.

The private Owner’s deck (also the bridge deck) comes with the aforementioned recording studio with a floor designed with sound dampening properties, a Master suite with a walk-in-wardrobe and an alfresco dining area that has its own bar and whirlpool tub. The other guests are not left wanting as M/Y OCTOPUS is replete with entertainment options such as a cinema, spa with hammam and sauna, gym, basketball court, an observation lounge and a heated freshwater swimming pool with a glass retractable floor to become a flush entertaining space. The selection of water toys is also impressive and created as much for family fun as exploration of the environment, and among the collection is a 10-pax submarine.

Superyacht Octopus with helicopter

In terms of her technical specifications, there are eight MTU 16V 4000 M70 engines that provide a top speed of 19 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots, however most notable is her impressive cruising range of 14,250 nautical miles.

She is built to ICE-Class 1A standards and is equipped with a helipad forward and aft, both of which have access to a hangar for storage.

Luxury yacht OCTOPUS can currently be seen moored at the Antibes marina as she awaits a buyer.

MORE INFO AND IMAGES OF OCTOPUS

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Mega yacht Octopus of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for sale".

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