Paul Allen
Paul Allen

Paul Allen is following in the footsteps of legendary philanthropists like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, but is doing so in a way that’s unique to the passions and interests of the 62-year-old Microsoft co-founder.

That’s the take-away from a New York Times profile published today that focuses on Allen’s charitable efforts, which now total more than $2 billion.

Allen, who has given away parts of his fortune to support everything from the fight against Ebola to wildlife conservation, told the Times he plans to give away most of his money eventually.

Paul Allen accepts
Earlier this month, Paul Allen accepted a Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy, which honors individuals who give private wealth to the greater public good.

“Something that is characteristic of me is the breadth of my interests,” Allen told the Times. “I’m trying to show people that they can activate their own passions, and find their own path.”

Allen added that he’s on a path of his own, telling the Times that he wants to “transmit the visions of creativity and build institutions that are incredibly catalytic to their fields.”

The Times also quotes Oren Etzioni, the veteran Seattle entrepreneur who now heads up The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, which just released a new new search engine for scientists on Monday. Etzioni noted how Allen is heavily involved with the projects that receive his money versus someone like Warren Buffett.

Last month, Allen was among eight other honorees who received a Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy, which honors individuals who give private wealth to the greater public good.

“We’re facing a host of challenges … but we’re also living in a world of great possibility,” Allen said in his acceptance speech, citing examples such as learning more about biology of the universe, entrepreneurs launching new business ideas, and artists creating new works as positive advancements.

“I choose optimism, I hope to be a catalyst not only by providing financial resources but also by fostering a sense of possibility,” Allen said. “Encouraging top experts to collaborate across disciplines, challenge conventional thinking and figure out ways to overcome some of the world’s hardest problems.”

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