Intuitive
Futurist

While it's not that unusual to run across an individual who can anticipate trends and challenges before they arrive, it is exceedingly rare for someone to be able to see two, three, or more steps down the road.

Paul’s uncanny ability to anticipate the personal computing revolution led him to co-found Microsoft. And his belief in the importance of investing in great ideas that may be well ahead of their time inspired him to establish Vulcan Capital, a multi-billion-dollar investment firm, change the footprint of the South Lake Union Neighborhood, and give back to the next generation of thinkers and doers.

Microsoft

Paul's name is, of course, synonymous with Microsoft, the company he co-founded with his friend Bill Gates, which changed the trajectory of modern computing.

”In my own work, I’ve tried to anticipate what’s coming over the horizon, to hasten its arrival, and to apply it to people’s lives in a meaningful way.”

South Lake
Union

Paul's investment in developing South Lake Union left a lasting and positive impression on the footprint of Seattle.

UW and
WSU Gifts

Paul made significant contributions to two of Washington state's premier institutions of higher learning, supporting the next generation of big thinkers who will help solve some of the world's biggest challenges.

Investments

Paul's investments looked toward the future and sought out paradigm-shifting industries, solutions, and technology.

Additional
Stories

Science

Allen
Institutes

The Allen Institute and the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence lead cutting-edge science and making groundbreaking discoveries in bioscience and artificial intelligence research.

Creativity

MoPOP

The Museum of Pop Culture opened in 2000 and over the years evolved into a hands-on museum experience celebrating all forms of popular culture and creative expression.

Science

Tech for
Good

Paul believed technology could be leveraged to protect our planet, wildlife, and resources, and improve the lives of people everywhere.

Exploration

Space

Paul pursued making space more accessible in ways that would fuel space innovation — including SpaceShipOne, the Allen Telescope Array, and Stratolaunch, the world's largest airplane by wingspan.

Pacific Northwest

Seahawks

Paul purchased the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise in 1997, and since then the team has gone on to make three Super Bowl appearances.

Exploration

Great Elephant
Census

The Great Elephant Census was a massive undertaking to survey the remaining savanna elephants across the African continent. Results of this survey shocked the world into action.

IntuitiveFuturist

Intuitive
Futurist