Toni Dimaano Science 10.15.2022 09:Oct AM EDT

Paul Allen Death Anniversary: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Microsoft Co-Founder

In this day in 2018, Paul Allen, the man who co-founded Microsoft, has succumbed to death due to septic shock at 65 years old.

It has been five years since the passing of the "Idea Man" behind one of the largest technological companies in the world, but his legacy remains until today.

In commemoration of his death today, October 15, here are some information that you might have not known about the man himself:

1. A Man With Different Hobbies

If there is one thing Paul Allen is known for aside from co-founding Microsoft, it is living his life unapologetically, CNN Business writes.

For the last 35 years of his life, Allen was an active businessman and a sports fanatic who bought sports teams, and invested in multiple technology companies like AOL and Ticketmaster.

In 1998, he purchased the Portland Trail Blazers NBA Team from Larry Weinberg for $70 million, and became a part owner of Seattle Sounders FC, a Major League Soccer franchise.

He also found interest in WWII shipwreck expeditions, art and artifact curation for museums, and traveling the world with A-list celebrities.

Allen was also passionate about aviation, which led him to fund SpaceShip-One, a private aircraft that put a civilian in suborbital space, Forbes recalls.

Additionally, Allen had the taste for art and had a collection of pieces that includes the art of Botticelli, Renoir, David Hockney, and Roy Lichtenstein.

However, this $1 billion dollar worth of art would be going in auction at the largest auction in history in November just like Allen wishes, BBC writes.

2. A Multi-talented Music Mogul

According to the Business Insider, the legendary music producer Quincy Jones said that Allen can sing and play guitar "just like" his idol Jimi Hendrix.

Allen is known for his collection of valuable guitars, and Hendrix memorabilia that have been in a museum dedicated to the musical icon he looked up to.

In addition to this, Allen also had a band called "Underthinkers", which released their debut album called Everywhere at Once, featuring the blue-rock genre.

3. A Philanthropist In His Essence

According to CNN Edition, the tech mogul has donated billions of dollars to charity in his lifetime, and vowed to leave the majority of his estate to charitable deeds.

Daze Info reports that Allen also funded the Allen Institute for Brain Science to reverse engineer the brain in honor of his mother who had Alhzeimer's Disease.

Because of this, the Allen institute was able to release its data and literature to the greater public through another project called "Allen Brain Atlas"

Matthew Herper of the Allen Institute also said that Allen's investment allowed them to make a gigantic computed map of how genes work in the brain, pinpointing their role in disorders.

4. A 'Big Toy' Enthusiast

For those who did not know, CNN Edition reports that Allen loves his yachts, where there were built-in amenities such as a recording studio, helipads, and submarines.

Allen owned a 414-foot yacht called Octopus that cost $200 million to build, and another 303-foot yacht whom he called Tatoosh.

According to the Business Insider, the yachts kept such a massive operation that required a permanent staff of 60 people to operate, and $384,000 of funding for maintenance.

5. A Fighter And Survivor

Allen can also be considered a survivor in his own right as he beat Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1982, which forced him to leave Microsoft to focus on his health.

In 2009, the late billionaire also got diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and underwent chemotherapy for treatment.

However, in 2018, a complication related to sepsis due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma terminated the fruitful life of Paul Allen.