Businessman Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Bill Gates, died Monday due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. At the time of his unexpected death, the 65-year-old Seattle native owned the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers. With the National Football League (NFL) team absent of an owner, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggested Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos should take over in Allen's place.
In speaking with Monday Morning Quarterback's (MMQB) Jenny Vrentas, Jones addressed the Seattle Seahawks fate amid Allen's untimely death. Vrentas deemed Bezos an "obvious name" that would pique the league's interest since he's "the world's wealthiest person, is based in Seattle and the NFL is already in business with him." Jones, however, was intrigued by the idea of seeing Bezos purchase the professional team.
"Someone like that," Jones, 76, said. "I'd carry him piggyback to get him to the NFL."
Jones then discussed the possibility of the Seahawks relocating. While he suggested he couldn't imagine the team being housed elsewhere, Jones believed Allen wouldn't want the team to depart Seattle.
"I have no idea what his estate is, but my thought would be that he would want it to always be the Seattle Seahawks because he contributed so much; he loved Seattle; it was big deal to him," Jones said. "He's a unique owner relative to this situation because of his enormous wealth. He and his estate can do whatever they want to do here."
Bezos' purchase of the Seattle Seahawks would add to his long roster of business ventures. The 54-year-old businessman notably founded Amazon in 1994, he created spaceflight startup Blue Origin in 2000 and he purchased the Washington Post in cash for $250 million in 2013. He also uses Bezos Expeditions, his venture capital fund, to make personal investments in companies within various sectors like ZocDoc.
Bezos, according to an October report by Forbes, has an estimated net worth of $145.4 billion. He last discussed his passion for entrepreneurship with Mathias Döpfner of Axel Springer in April, where he detailed the importance of following "curiosity."
"I was one of those people who every time I looked at something it looks like it could be improved—there's something wrong with it. So I'd go through, like, how could this restaurant be better? So I've always had that kind of idea," Bezos said. "I think the great thing about humans in general is we're always improving things. And so if entrepreneurs and inventors follow their curiosity and they follow their passions, and they figure something out and they figure out how to make it. And they're never satisfied. You need to harness that."
Allen bought the Seahawks in 1996. At the time, former owner Ken Behring desired to move the team to Anaheim, California. Allen, however, stepped in to halt such action from occurring.
"When I said yes to help save the Seahawks, I meant that I'd do my part in building something for the future, personally and financially. If you vote yes, I'll do what it takes to make the new stadium and exhibition center a success. I stand by that commitment," Allen said in a 1996 campaign ad, according to the Seattle Times. "But if you say no, that means no for me too, because I'm not going to do this without you. When I said that you'll have the final say, I meant it. Together, we can leave something for future generations."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dory Jackson is a New York-based entertainment journalist from Maryland. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College—in May 2016—with a focus in Communication ... Read more
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