Paul Allen is an American business tycoon, investor, researcher and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of the largest software company in the world: Microsoft. In addition to Microsoft, Allen has other business focus areas that include technology, real estate, media and sports. In addition to co-founding Microsoft with his good friend Bill Gate, Allen also founded Vulcan Capital Inc, owner of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers and co-owner of Seattle Sounders FC, which in 2009 became a member of the Major League Soccer. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay The business tycoon is also interested in research, so he founded some research institutes such as Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Stratolaunch Systems, and Institute for Cellular Sciences. Allen was born in Seattle, Washington on January 21, 1953 to Edna Faye and Kenneth Sam Allen. His full name is Paul Gardner Allen. He attended a private school in Seattle, the Lakeside School, where he met his close friend and future business partner, Bill Gate. The two were bonded by their love and passion for computers. After high school, Allen headed to Washington State University to study computer science and Bill to Harvard. After two years Paul Allen dropped out of college and convinced Bill to drop out too so they both followed their passion for computers and software. Inspired by an article published in "Popular Electronics" that featured the new Altair microcomputer kit produced by MITS computer, the two friends moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where MITS headquarters was located. After working for some time and saving $16,000, in 1975 they founded the largest software in the world. Their journey to success was not a smooth ride all the way, but vision, tenacity and hard work kept them going and today that little the company founded with just $16,000 has a turnover of $89.95 billion in 2017 and the two friends found their names in the list of the richest men in the world. Microsoft, Paul Allen has a chain of other businesses and investments. He is the founder of Vulcan Capital Inc, a private asset management firm, which he founded in 1986, with a mission to find solutions to some of the world's toughest challenges. In 2013, it opened a new office in Palo Alto, California, with the goal of investing in young and emerging technology and Internet companies. His most recent investment ventures include Decide.com, Audience Inc and Redfin. His real estate company provides development and portfolio management services and has developed more than 6 million square feet of retail office, biotech and residential space. In 2012, it sold office space worth $1.16 billion to Amazon. Paul Allen is the owner of the National Football League franchise, Seattle Seahawks; which purchased in 1996, Ken Behring. He also owns the Portland Blazers NBA team which he bought for $70 million in 1988 from real estate developer Larry Weinberg, and part owns Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC. The business mogul is also interested in the media: together with his sister Jody Allen he founded Vulcan Productions, a television and film production company based in Seattle. Both serve as executive producers for the company. His love and passion for aviation also led him to found Vulcan Aerospace, with which he financed the Space Ship One project, which is the first private plane to take a civilian into suborbital space. It's still there.