It’s really a travesty that Paul Allen’s sister seems bent on dismantling everything he left behind.
My impression is that Paul died somewhat suddenly and simply didn’t make arrangements to keep these things going. His sister is not interested in them so she’s winding them down.
It’s too bad he didn’t set up some kind of endowment before he passed. Maybe he didn’t want to or maybe he just didn’t get around to it.
I wonder what will happen to MoPop/EMP. AFAIK that’s always been a financial black hole.
It doesn't seem like she was the nicest person.
Anyway here you go:
Not sure why newspapers are "leading" on that front. All the tech sites are open.
Jodie Allen (his sister and only heir) is just following his instructions, from what I understand. She isn't financially benefiting from shutting down the computer museum, she is just executing his will:
> According to multiple reports Paul Allen’s will states that the Paul G. Allen Trust, which contains billions in assets, including the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, will be liquidated upon his death and the assets used to fund his passion projects. Paul Allen died in October 2018 and the Trail Blazers have been rumored to be on the sales block for the past few years, but all’s quiet on the Seahawks front. Is Jody Allen trying to hold onto the Seahawks against her brother’s wishes?
https://theshadowleague.com/the-instructions-are-clear-the-s...
The problem is, a lot of projects didn't make it into his list of passion projects. More:
> Sealed lips aside, here’s what we know: In 2010, Allen pledged to bequeath the majority of his wealth to philanthropy. (During his lifetime, Allen gave away more than $2 billion, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy.) Tasked with this mammoth undertaking is his sister Jody Allen, trustee and executor of his estate, who is bound by her brother’s wishes as set out in the trust.
https://crosscut.com/culture/2022/11/16b-sale-paul-allens-ar...
One can accuse his sister of not following his instructions, I guess, but unless we know what those instructions are, it isn't a very easy accusation to back up.
Spite is one way to put it. She has no love for anything computers, technology, or otherwise.
Also, a lot there for a while but less now that they’re almost all gone, being there with cash in hand to buy the remaining stock in bulk when a competitor/colleague goes out of business.
Sometimes in a good used book store you can spot substantial remnants of some particular enthusiast’s collection, like a whole bunch of German-language original 19th century scholarship on the history of the conquest of South America or whatever. Some improbable number of books on some niche topic, nearly all of which probably belonged to one person (or, sometimes, institution) before landing there.
So want to blame the family. But really Paul Allen’s fault here.
It’s a shame, was such a great museum.