You can’t take it with you.
RIP Paul Allen.
In 1975, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Allen and Gates began marketing a BASIC programming language interpreter.[14]
Allen came up with the original name of “Micro-Soft,” according to a 1995 Fortune magazine article.[19]
In 1980, after Microsoft had committed to deliver IBM a disk operating system (DOS) for the original IBM PC, although they had not yet developed one, Allen spearheaded a deal for Microsoft to purchase QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System), written by Tim Paterson, who, at the time, was employed at Seattle Computer Products.
As a result of this transaction, Microsoft was able to secure a contract to supply the DOS that would eventually run on IBM’s PC line. This contract with IBM proved the watershed in Microsoft history that led to Allen’s and Gates’ wealth and success.[14] Allen effectively left Microsoft in 1982 due to serious illness.[14]
Allen officially resigned from his position on the Microsoft board of directors in November 2000 but was asked to consult as a senior strategy advisor to the company’s executives. Bill Gates reportedly asked Allen to give him some of his shares to compensate for the higher amount of work being performed by Gates.[20]
Allen thought this was warranted; however, when the time came [when?] for the adjustment to occur, Gates decided not to proceed.[21]
Instead, Gates tried to buy Allen out at a low price, however Allen refused and left the company with his shares intact.
This proved critical to Allen becoming a billionaire after Microsoft went public.[22]
But it must be nice to enjoy it while you're here.
To his credit he outright gave away billions and invested many billions in long shots some of which may pan out one day
A visionary and a quiet man
Godspeed