Paul Allen’s Legacy Lives On as Trail Blazers Officially Go Up for Sale.
The Portland Trail Blazers are officially on the market.
On Tuesday, the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen confirmed it had begun the process of selling the NBA franchise, marking the end of an era. The sale is being managed by investment bank Allen & Co., with legal support from Hogan Lovells, and is expected to stretch into the 2025–26 NBA season. Given current franchise valuations, the Blazers could fetch between $3 billion and $5 billion—making this one of the most lucrative team sales in league history.
A Legacy Set in Motion
Since Paul Allen’s death in 2018, the Blazers have remained under the stewardship of his sister, Jody Allen, as part of a trust. That trust was established to ensure that his vast portfolio of assets would eventually be liquidated, with the proceeds directed toward charitable efforts through the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
RELATED: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Could Be NBA’s First $80M Man.
“Paul's instructions were clear,” the estate said in a statement. “These assets are to be sold, and the proceeds used to fund his philanthropic vision.”
The move doesn’t just signal the sale of a basketball team—it signals the final unfolding of a visionary’s posthumous plan: turning a lifetime of ambition into long-term impact.
From Code to Courtside
Paul Allen was more than a tech titan. In 1975, he co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, igniting a digital revolution that would reshape the world. Allen, who held a 25% stake in the company, played a vital role in writing its early software and negotiating pivotal deals—most notably the IBM-MS-DOS agreement.
Microsoft’s 1986 IPO catapulted him to billionaire status. Though he left the company in 1983 after a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis (which he later beat), Allen’s fortune—estimated at $20 billion by the time of his death—allowed him to pursue a sweeping portfolio of passions.
Building an Empire of Interests
Allen’s post-Microsoft life was defined by audacity, exploration, and generosity. He bought the Trail Blazers in 1988 for $70 million and later acquired the Seattle Seahawks in 1997, rescuing them from a potential relocation. He became part-owner of the Seattle Sounders, helped fund SpaceShipOne (the first private spacecraft to reach space), and built Stratolaunch, the world's largest airplane by wingspan.
RELATED: Rudy Gobert's Net Worth In 2025: From Saint-Quentin to the NBA Stardom.
He also created Seattle's Experience Music Project (now MoPOP), invested heavily in brain science through the Allen Institute, and quietly assembled one of the world’s most valuable art collections—later sold for $1.6 billion, with all proceeds going to charity.
Allen even owned the Octopus, a 414-foot megayacht with a submarine, two helipads, and a recording studio—a floating monument to boundless curiosity.
Philanthropy Above All
Allen donated more than $2 billion during his lifetime to over 1,500 organizations. From climate initiatives and homelessness programs to health research and wildlife conservation, his giving was as eclectic as his interests.
He was also a signatory of the Giving Pledge, vowing to donate the majority of his wealth. With the Trail Blazers sale—and possible future sales of the Seahawks and Sounders—his foundation stands to receive billions more to continue his philanthropic work.
A Market-Setting Sale
In the context of recent NBA sales, the Blazers are expected to command a record-setting price. Consider:
-
Phoenix Suns: Sold for $4 billion (2023)
-
Milwaukee Bucks: Minority stake sale in 2023 valued the team at $3.5 billion
-
Boston Celtics: Currently in talks for a record-breaking $6.1 billion sale
Nike co-founder Phil Knight reportedly offered over $2 billion for the Blazers in 2022—a bid that was declined. Today, that figure would likely fall short of the mark.
Though only the Blazers are officially for sale now, the Allen estate’s holdings in the Seahawks and Sounders may follow in the coming years.
Conclusion: A Vision That Transcends Ownership
The sale of the Portland Trail Blazers is not just the closing chapter of Paul Allen’s extraordinary life—it’s the beginning of something greater. With billions now flowing into his foundation, Allen’s bold vision for a better world will live on. His legacy shows us what wealth, curiosity, and generosity can achieve when aligned with purpose. From pioneering personal computing to supporting brain science and the arts, Allen never stopped asking, "What should exist? What could be?" As his assets find new owners, his spirit of innovation and giving is just beginning a powerful new era.
