Paul Allen Net Worth (October 2025): What His Estate Is Likely Worth Now

When people search for paul allen net worth, they want a clear number. That is tough today, since Paul Allen, the Microsoft cofounder, investor, sports team owner, and philanthropist, passed away in 2018. 

What we can do is give a smart, grounded estimate of his estate’s value in October 2025, explain what drives changes, and show a simple way to build your own range using public data.

At his passing, the press put his net worth near $20 billion. Since then, markets moved, art sold for record sums, team values climbed, and parts of his portfolio shifted. This guide gives a clean snapshot, the main pieces that drove his wealth, how things changed since 2018, and a step-by-step way to estimate it today.

Paul Allen net worth: 2018 figure and the 2025 picture

Here is the quick answer. At the time of his death in October 2018, major outlets like Forbes estimated Paul Allen’s net worth at about $20 billion. That number came from public Microsoft stock prices, known private assets, and reported holdings.

In 2025, there is no single public number. His assets sit inside an estate and trusts, managed by his sister Jody Allen. Since 2018, Microsoft’s value rose during the AI wave, sports franchise valuations increased, and Christie's sold part of his art collection in 2022 for more than $1.6 billion. Some real estate and private assets have been sold as well.

The 2025 picture is a range, not a single point. It depends on current market prices, what has been sold, and what the estate still holds. The clear takeaway: the estate still sits in the tens of billions, but the exact figure changes with markets and is not published in real time.

The 2018 baseline: about $20 billion at his passing

Billionaire wealth trackers use a simple toolkit. They add up public stock positions at live prices, apply estimates for private assets using comps, and include known items like real estate and teams. 

Numbers move day by day with the market, so the 2018 headlines captured a snapshot, not a fixed value. For Paul Allen, the biggest driver was Microsoft, which he cofounded in 1975 with Bill Gates.

What changed since: sales, markets, and team values

Several public events reshaped the picture after 2018.

• Microsoft’s stock surged during the AI boom. Even if the estate sold shares over time, higher prices influence any remaining exposure and legacy stakes tied to Microsoft-linked investments.

• Christie's auctioned a major portion of Allen’s art collection in 2022, topping $1.6 billion in total hammer price. That converted uncertain art valuations into cash proceeds for the estate.

• NFL and NBA franchise valuations climbed in recent years. The Seahawks and Trail Blazers became more valuable on paper, based on comparable sales and league financial trends.

• Some private assets, real estate, and unique items were sold over time. That tends to turn illiquid holdings into cash, which is easier to value, and it aligns with the estate plan to support philanthropy.

2025 reality: no single number, a smart estimate range

The estate does not publish a live total. That is normal. Large estates include private companies, teams, art, and real property that change value and may sell in stages. A range approach makes more sense for 2025. 

Use public reference points, add up known sale proceeds from the art auctions, include team valuation ranges from trusted sources, and then apply a conservative discount for private assets, taxes, and fees.

Any honest estimate still lands in the tens of billions. Precision is not possible from public data, and it is likely not the estate’s goal to share a live tally.

What made up Paul Allen’s fortune: the big pieces to know

Paul Allen’s wealth was not just one stock. It was a mix of public holdings, teams, real estate, private investments, and a world-class art collection. Here are the main buckets and how they affect estimates.

Microsoft roots: founding stake and long-term value

Microsoft created the base of Allen’s fortune. He left day-to-day work in the 1980s, but he held a large stake for years. Over time, he diversified through sales and investments made via his family office, Vulcan.

Even in 2025, Microsoft’s share price matters. If the estate still holds Microsoft exposure, higher prices since 2018 lift that portion. If shares were sold in prior years, proceeds likely funded new investments, cash balances, or philanthropy. Either way, Microsoft sits behind much of the wealth story.

Sports teams: Seahawks, Trail Blazers, and a Sounders stake

Team ownership carries major value. The Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers are trophy assets with strong fan bases and media reach. Forbes and other outlets publish team valuation lists each year. While these are not sale prices, they offer a reference point that readers can check.

As of October 2025, the estate is still associated with both franchises. Public statements have said assets would be sold over time, but a sale timeline has not been set in public. Franchise prices have climbed across the NFL and NBA, driven by media deals and demand from buyers. 

That helps raise the value of the estate’s sports holdings on paper, even before any sale occurs.

Allen also held a minority stake in Seattle Sounders FC. Minority stakes trade at discounts to the headline team valuations, since governance rights and control are limited. Still, it adds to the total.

Real estate and private assets

Allen invested in commercial and residential real estate across Seattle and other markets. These assets include offices, development sites, and unique properties. Real estate values depend on rents, rates, and location strength. In some cities, office values have been under pressure, while prime properties hold better.

He also owned high-end private assets, such as yachts and island properties, which have been reported over the years. Some of these items have been sold, converting hard-to-value holdings into cash. Sales of large yachts and trophy properties can take time, and final prices depend on market conditions.

Venture and private investments through Vulcan

Vulcan managed Allen’s investments beyond Microsoft and sports. This included early stage tech, media, biotech, space-related plays, and energy projects. Private company stakes are hard to mark. Estimators rely on the latest funding rounds, independent appraisals, or comparable exits. In quiet markets, they apply a discount for risk and illiquidity.

The mix of winners and losses in a venture portfolio can change the estate’s value over time, although the biggest swings usually come from public stocks and teams.

Art collection: a record-setting sale

In 2022, Christie's held landmark auctions of Paul Allen’s art. The sales topped $1.6 billion, setting records for a single-owner collection. That event simplified part of the valuation. Instead of guessing what the works might fetch, the market delivered cash proceeds to the estate.

Not every artwork may have been sold, but the bulk sale converted a volatile, appraisal-based asset into money that can fund giving or be reallocated across the estate.

Estate plan and giving: how

philanthropy affects paul allen net worth

After 2018, Allen’s estate entered a long, careful process. Jody Allen serves as trustee. The plan has been to sell assets over time, support philanthropy, and wind down positions in an orderly way. That approach can take years, since large sales affect markets, staff, and community commitments.

Who manages the estate, and what is the plan

Jody Allen has a public role as trustee. She and Vulcan oversee the sale process and the ongoing management of holdings. The plan, shared in public statements, is simple and patient. Sell assets in stages, avoid rushed exits, and fund philanthropic goals. This kind of program is measured in years, not months, and it often lines up with market windows.

Philanthropy at scale: the Allen Institutes and more

Paul Allen gave during his life and set the stage for more giving after. The Allen Institute for Brain Science and the Allen Institute for AI are two large recipients. He backed bioscience, neuroscience, AI research, conservation, climate work, and the arts. This legacy continues through grants and ongoing support.

Large gifts reduce the headline value over time. That is the point. The wealth he built fuels long-term research and public benefit. It turns private capital into lasting programs.

Taxes, fees, and debt reduce the top-line number

A big number on a rich list is not what an estate keeps. In the United States, federal estate tax applies near 40 percent above the exemption. Washington state also has an estate tax, which can apply to residents. Add legal costs, advisory fees, and selling expenses for assets like teams and real estate.

You do not need exact math to see the effect. Start with a gross number, subtract federal and state estate taxes where relevant, then factor in transaction costs and philanthropy. The net number drops, sometimes a lot, which is why public estimates can differ from what the estate can deploy.

How to estimate Paul Allen net worth today, plus quick FAQs

If you want a grounded estimate for 2025, use public sources and keep a wide range. This is a practical way to do it without guessing.

A simple 3-step method to build a 2025 estimate

1. List the big assets and values you can find. Use Forbes for NFL and NBA team valuations, Christie's reported totals for the 2022 art sales, and any public references to major real estate or funds.

2. Add public stock exposure if disclosed. If filings or reliable reports show Microsoft or other public holdings, apply recent prices. If you cannot confirm amounts, note the uncertainty instead of forcing a number.

3. Apply a discount for private assets, taxes, and fees, then express a low and high range. Private company stakes get a haircut. Subtract an estimate for taxes and transaction costs. Time-stamp your work. For example, write Estimated range as of October 2025.

Q1. Does the estate still hold Microsoft shares

The estate has had Microsoft exposure since 2018, but the current level is not fully public. Large holders sometimes appear in filings if they cross reporting thresholds, or when shares are pledged or transferred. Without fresh disclosures, do not assume exact share counts. Treat Microsoft as a key driver of past wealth and a possible ongoing component in the portfolio.

Q2. Are the Seahawks or Trail Blazers for sale in 2025

As of October 2025, there is no completed public sale of the Seahawks or Trail Blazers. The estate has said assets would be sold over time, and a sale is expected at some point, but timing has not been announced. If a franchise sells, the final price replaces estimates and will shift any net worth range right away.

Q3.How does Paul Allen’s wealth compare to Bill Gates now

Bill Gates is a living investor with public disclosures and active holdings, so his net worth updates in near real time. Paul Allen’s number reflects an estate under administration. Assets are being sold, taxes are paid, and philanthropy scales up. 

Comparing the two is not apples to apples. Gates’s total is a live mark-to-market figure. Allen’s is a private estate number that moves with sales, gifts, and market prices.

Conclusion

At death in 2018, paul allen net worth sat near $20 billion. In October 2025, the estate still anchors in the tens of billions, but the precise figure is private and moves with markets, team valuations, asset sales, taxes, and ongoing giving. The biggest drivers are Microsoft-linked wealth, the Seahawks and Trail Blazers, and the large 2022 art sale that brought in more than $1.6 billion.

If you want your own estimate, add public team valuations, include known sale proceeds, account for any public stock exposure you can verify, then subtract taxes and fees.

Present a range, and time-stamp it. Check back as new sales, filings, or market moves appear. This keeps your view current and close to how professionals approach a complex, evolving estate.