Paul Allen, billionaire and co-founder of software giant Microsoft, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but still intends to keep his position as chairman of asset management company Vulcan.
The diagnosis was reportedly made earlier this month, and comes 25 years after Allen survived a previous battle with Hodgkin’s disease.
An announcement was made by Allen’s sister and Vulcan chief executive Jody Allen to the company’s employees.
“This is tough news for Paul and the family. But for those who know Paul’s story, you know he beat Hodgkin’s a little more than 25 years ago and he is optimistic he can beat this, too.”
“Paul is feeling okay and remains upbeat. He continues to work and he has no plans to change his role at Vulcan. His health comes first, though, and we’ll be sure that nothing intrudes on that.”
Microsoft founder and former chief executive Bill Gates also released a statement, saying that: “Paul is among my closest friends, and I know him to be a strong and resilient individual”.
Allen is the 32nd richest person in the world, according to Forbes, worth $US10.5 billion. He was formerly the 12th richest American, but lost about $US5.5 billion due to the financial crisis.
Allen co-founded software giant Microsoft with Gates in 1975, and began his work as a programming language interpreter for the BASIC language. He organised a deal in 1980 to purchase a “Quick and Dirty Operating System”, which led to a contract with IBM.
Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in 1983, but did not return to his role at Microsoft after successfully treating the disease. He resigned as a board member in November 2000, but still reportedly owns over 130 million shares in the company.
Apart from his role at Vulcan, Allen remains chairman of Charter Communications and owns three professional sports teams.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
