Paul Allen, born on January 21, 1953, is an American entrepreneur who founded the predecessor of Microsoft with Bill Gates. Currently the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. He is one of the richest people in the world. As of 2006, he was ranked sixth by Forbes magazine, with assets of approximately $22.7 billion, of which $5 billion was in Microsoft stock. At the same time, he is the chairman of Charter Communications, a shareholder of DreamWorks, and also owns the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers.
Alan has been interested in computer science since he was a child. Since his father is a librarian at the University of Washington Library, he has easy access to computer science-related books. 14-year-old Allen has become obsessed with computers. He spends almost all day in the school computer room playing with electronic equipment and learning to write computer programs. At the same time, it is logical that he has a relationship with another computer fan in the school, who is only 12 years old. Bill Gates became a good friend when he was 20 years old. The two spent the whole day talking about computer programming and even competing against each other. In 1971, Allen was admitted to Washington State University, but dropped out after two years. The reason is simple: he hopes to realize his dream of starting a software business.
Allen knew that to realize this dream, he could not rely on himself. Soon he went to find Gates, who was a sophomore at Harvard at the time, and tried his best to persuade the latter to drop out of school and start a business with him. After several rejections, Gates was finally convinced by his "idea of ??writing commercial software for personal computers." "The whole incident was decided almost in a single thought," even Gates said. "If Allen's blueprint hadn't touched me at that time, maybe I would still be in college, and then all the stories in the future would not have happened. ”
They first tried to write a programming language called Basic for the first microcomputer Altair. In 1975, the Basic language was successful on the Altair computer, and Allen was hired by MIT to work on the Apple II personal computer and Radio Shake's TRS-80 computer. Microsoft, co-founded by Allen and Gates, was also established in this year (1975). When Allen bought the QDOS operating system for $50,000, they finally won the opportunity to cooperate with IBM. A few years later, the DOS operating system became the first choice for personal computers, and the personal computer era began.
The cooperation between the two founders can be said to be quite tacit. Allen focuses on new technologies and new ideas, while Gates focuses on business and is a salesperson, technical director, lawyer, and business negotiator. He is responsible for everything as president and CEO. Unfortunately, before Windows came, Allen left the software company in 1983 due to illness.
A year later, Allen, who regained his health, basically no longer interfered with Microsoft's affairs. He only retained a position on the board of directors and owned 28% of the shares. From this year on, he began his extensive investment activities. From the initial establishment of Asymetrix software company, Sum Total System company to the recent Vulcan investment company, he has invested more than billions of dollars, such as ESPN, DreamWorks, Alien Biological Research Institute, Human Brain Academy, NBA teams, real estate , museums, including last year’s private space program have all received his investment. In addition, he is also passionate about public welfare and charity.
Gates once said, "Allen was very important in the creation and development of Microsoft. Without him, there would be no Microsoft, and his opinions will still be highly valued." But compared with Gates's talent and strategy , Allen is indeed not an excellent manager or operator. He has invested and controlled more than 150 companies and organizations in almost every field, but the return on investment is pitiful. As Laura Rich, author of "Accidentally Made Billions," a biography of Allen, pointed out, "He was not a good manager because his priority was not the business; Obsession with technology itself." Even the American "Business Week" ruthlessly rated him as one of the "worst managers." He himself does not take this to heart and still does what he likes as always, just like the lyrics in a song he wrote himself, "Time Bomb": "Everything I do may be wrong, but I'm still going to be very motivated.
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