The publication of Paul Allen’s book last year reportedly caused a “rift” with his Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, over Allen’s unvarnished and at times very unflattering portrayal of Gates.
But it looks they may have patched things up, in the spirit of the Olympics. At the very least, they’re hanging out again.
A report this week in the British tabloid the Sun (consider this is an insight into our off-hours reading habits) provides details on a party that Allen is throwing on one of his yachts, which is being moored in East London for the Olympics. Those on the invite list include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Bill Gates.
When I spoke with Allen last year, shortly after the book came out, he acknowledged that he and Gates hadn’t talked about the book at that point, but said he didn’t think it had jeopardized their friendship.
“I’m sure there are things in the book that Bill wants to discuss, and he’ll have a different slant about them,” he said. “Bill and I have had many intense discussions over the years. We haven’t had a chance to talk about the book since it was published. I gave him a copy months ahead of publication. So he had a head start on it. That discussion will be very, very intense, and he’ll be very direct, as will I.”
When it comes to the party on the yacht, hopefully Gates learns a lesson from Antonio Banderas and avoids the Bollywood stars when Allen’s band starts playing.
