The Richest People In America: Paul Allen

#12 Paul Allen

$16.0 billion
Source: Microsoft, investments

Washington State dropout founded Microsoft with school chum Bill Gates in 1975. Left Microsoft in 1983 after Hodgkin's disease diagnosis. Sold off much of his stake to lose huge sums on far-off visions through holding company Vulcan. Microsoft still makes up 20% of his fortune; shares down 29% since October highs amid botched buyout attempt of Yahoo, worries company can't compete with Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ). Stake in cable outfit Charter Communications (nasdaq: CHTR - news - people ) down 45% since May. Dabbles in odd tech projects; donated $25 million to researchers scanning outer space for signs of intelligent alien life, millions more to create Allen Institute for Brain Science, which maps gene activity in humans and mice. Guitar fanatic owns a rock 'n' roll museum, Jimi Hendrix music rights and artifacts. Also owns football's Seattle Seahawks and basketball's Portland Trailblazers; expanding into pro soccer with Seattle Sounders MLS team in 2009.

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