How much was Paul Allen worth, and what remains today? The short answer is clear. At his death in 2018, widely cited figures put Paul Allen net worth near 20 billion dollars. He passed in October 2018. Since then, his wealth moved into an estate and trust overseen by his sister, Jody Allen, working through Vulcan, the family’s management company.
For a person who has died, net worth is better viewed as estate value. Assets are sold, gifts to charity go out, markets move, and taxes apply. I will keep this simple. I will break down how he made his money, what the estate still holds, what has been sold, and what a reasonable reader can estimate in 2025 without guessing.
Quick answer: Paul Allen net worth then and now (2025 update)
Here is the fast takeaway. In 2018, the figure was about 20 billion dollars. In 2025, the estate’s exact value is not public and shifts with sales, investments, and giving. Based on team valuations, real estate, private investments, and large asset sales, the estate likely remains in the tens of billions, reduced over time by philanthropy and taxes.
Major sources include Microsoft proceeds, sports ownership in the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, real estate under Vulcan, private investments, and a world-class art collection. The art collection sold in 2022 for a record total above 1.6 billion dollars, with proceeds pledged to charity.
At death: about 20 billion in 2018
The 2018 estimate near 20 billion reflected decades of Microsoft gains and later investments. By then, Paul Allen had sold much of his Microsoft stake and diversified into media, telecom, real estate, sports, and private tech. Cash and securities sat alongside large equity positions and hard assets like teams and property.
This number became the common benchmark after his death. It captures his peak financial footprint at that moment in time.
Today: estate value shifts with sales, markets, and giving
Since 2018, the estate has been dynamic. Team values rose over the last decade. Real estate values moved with rates and local demand. Private stakes changed with market cycles. Some assets were sold, and large charitable funds received proceeds.
No single figure captures all this movement. A fair way to think about it: the estate remains very large, likely in the multi-billion range, and continues to shrink at the margin as planned giving and taxes are fulfilled.
Why estimates vary for Paul Allen net worth after 2018
Several factors create wide ranges.
- Private valuations are not public and can shift quickly.
- Deal terms for asset sales may be undisclosed or only reported in ranges.
- Markets move across years, changing the value of real estate and securities.
- Timing matters. A sale in 2020 would price differently than a sale in 2023.
- Philanthropic grants and estate taxes reduce totals on a rolling basis.
This is why no single public number in 2025 is definitive.
How Paul Allen built his fortune from Microsoft to mega assets
Paul Allen’s wealth grew in waves. First came Microsoft, then decades of investing and ownership through Vulcan. The throughline is clear. Early equity created the base, then patient capital and vision scaled it into a broad portfolio.
Microsoft cofounder: the foundation of his wealth
Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in the 1970s. Early equity made him rich when the company grew into a software giant. He left day-to-day work in 1983 and later sold shares across years. Those proceeds seeded his investments. As Windows and Office dominated, the value of early founder stakes proved to be the launch pad for everything that followed.
Vulcan investments: tech, media, and bold bets
Paul Allen created Vulcan Inc. to manage his assets and ideas. Vulcan became the hub for public and private investments, as well as projects in science and culture. The portfolio included telecom like Charter Communications, media holdings, and stakes across tech. He also backed ambitious ventures in space and aviation, such as Stratolaunch.
This platform approach mattered. It let the estate hold a wide mix of assets, some public, some private, with a long time frame. That mix still shapes value today.
Sports ownership: Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers
Sports teams were visible and strategic. Paul Allen bought the Portland Trail Blazers in 1988 and the Seattle Seahawks in 1997. He paid a fraction of what such teams would command today. Team values grew as media rights and franchise revenues climbed.
As of late 2024, reports and public signals pointed to the trust still controlling both teams. Sales have been discussed over the years. Timing depends on market conditions, league rules, and the estate’s plan. Until a sale happens, these teams remain large pieces of the estate’s pie.
Real estate and art: quiet engines of value
Vulcan Real Estate helped shape parts of Seattle’s South Lake Union and other neighborhoods. Those holdings generated rent, growth, and strategic value. Real estate often moves in cycles. Over time, prime assets in strong markets tend to be resilient.
The art collection was a standout. In 2022, the Paul G. Allen collection sold for over 1.6 billion dollars at Christie's, setting a single-owner record. The proceeds were pledged to philanthropy. This shifted value from art to cash, then to grants, changing the estate’s mix and liquidity profile.
Where the money is now: inside the Paul G. Allen estate and trust
What happens to wealth after a founder dies? It concentrates in a trust and related entities, then moves according to the estate plan. For Paul Allen, that structure runs through the Paul G. Allen trust, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and Vulcan.
Who manages the estate and what the plan covers
Jody Allen, Paul’s sister, serves as trustee and chair of Vulcan. The estate plan includes large charitable commitments across science, climate, conservation, and the arts. Organizations associated with Paul Allen’s vision, including research institutes, have continued their work with ongoing support.
The plan focuses on impact, not on holding every asset forever. This design affects timelines, sales, and grantmaking.
Sports teams: large and visible pieces of the pie
Sports franchises are among the most valuable assets. League-wide valuations climbed in recent years. In 2024 and 2025 ranges, credible estimates place the Seahawks in the mid single-digit billions and the Trail Blazers in the low single-digit billions. That is a large share of the overall estate.
Sales may be staged to maximize value and meet estate goals. Reports in past years have mentioned sale timing constraints tied to financing or venue agreements. Any final deal would depend on price, approvals, and terms.
Other assets: real estate, private stakes, cash, and yachts
The estate holds a range of assets beyond teams.
- Seattle real estate under Vulcan and related holdings
- Private company stakes and venture positions
- Cash and marketable securities for liquidity
- High-end assets like yachts, including the well-known Octopus, along with aircraft and collectibles
Some assets have been marketed and sold over time. Others may be held for longer, then sold when conditions improve or grants require cash.
Giving and taxes: why the estate value will keep changing
Large grants and taxes reduce the headline number. The record art sale sent billions toward charity. Ongoing commitments support research, climate work, and the arts. Estate taxes also apply based on jurisdiction and timing.
This is intentional. Paul Allen set a plan for significant giving. That plan will keep the estate in motion for years.
Conclusion
At his death in 2018, Paul Allen net worth was about 20 billion dollars. Today, the estate remains very large, driven by sports teams, real estate, private stakes, and cash, and trimmed by planned philanthropy and taxes.
Exact figures are not public, and honest estimates use ranges, not false precision. If you want the latest shift, watch team sale news and updates from Vulcan. I will keep my view grounded, clear, and focused on facts that matter.
FAQ: Common questions about Paul Allen net worth
Q1.Is Paul Allen net worth still tracked like a living billionaire?
No. Lists that track daily billionaire values focus on living individuals. After death, wealth sits in an estate and trust. That amount is not marked to market in public lists and changes with sales and grants.
Q2.How much was Paul Allen worth when he died?
The common 2018 figure is about 20 billion dollars. It reflects Microsoft proceeds, sports teams, real estate, private investments, and cash at that time. This is the benchmark most readers see.
Q3.Who owns the Seahawks and Trail Blazers now?
The Paul G. Allen trust has held the teams, with Jody Allen as trustee. Public reports have discussed possible sales, but any deal depends on timing, price, and league approvals. Until then, the trust remains in control.
Q4.Did the record art sale change his net worth?
It changed the mix of estate assets. Art moved to cash, then to philanthropy, based on the pledge to give proceeds to charity. This reduces the estate as grants go out, which was part of Paul Allen’s plan.
