Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is notably one of the wealthiest people across the globe. With that kind of lifestyle and status, buying real estate definitely becomes just as a hobby for the tech entrepreneur.
Paul Allen net worth is $17.1 billion. Take a look at some of his real estate purchases over the years in the list below:
1. Primary Residence: Mercer Island, Seattle
Allen primarily lives in a waterfront home in the luxurious Seattle area of Mercer Island, which boasts of 10,000 square feet (photo).
According to Business Insider, Allen actually owns 11 mansions on the island. One of which is just for his mother, while another encompasses a full-sized basketball court, a swimming pool, and a fitness center.
2. Mercer Island Bungalow
Allen's most recent purchase also resides on Mercer Island. The 3,000 square foot bungalow was acquired for $5.4 million (photo).
3. Allan Island, Washington
Back in 1992, Paul bought Allan Island, found just off the coast of Washington. Apparently, Allen wanted to build a dream home on the island, although its seclusion and lack of electricity made the project difficult to pursue.
Allen sold Allan Island (photo) for a discounted price of $8 million in 2013.
4. Tetonia, Idaho
Paul Allen also bought what used to be a sheep ranch (photo) in Tetonia, Idaho back in 1993. For several years, the property operated a five-suit luxury mountain lodge called the Teton Ridge Ranch. Unfortunately, it had to close the business down in 2009.
5. Beverly Hills, California
Allen also bought a Beverly Hills home back in 1997. The 12,952 square foot Mediterranean-style mansion also featured a funicular that would help transport guests from the pool deck to a tennis court, which was situated on a much lower part of the property (photo).
6. The Enchanted Hill in Beverly Hills
It was also in 1997 when Allen purchased "The Enchanted Hill" for $20 million. The Beverly Hills estate was previously owned by Hollywood legends Frances Marion and Fred Thomson.
Allen previously caused controversy in the community after demolishing the property in 2000. Nothing has been built on the land since then (photo).
7. Malibu, California
Going for something more contemporary and riddled with glass, Allen bought his Carbon Beach home in Malibu (photo) for $25 million back in 2010.
It was in 2014 when Allen sold the property to CBS President Les Moonves for $28 million. As it turns out, Paul decided to put the estate on the market because he "hated the sound of the ocean."
8. Silicon Valley, California
In 2013, Allen purchased his 22,000 square foot mansion for $27 million (photo). The home is located in Atherton, one of Silicon Valley's wealthiest neighborhoods. It probably doesn't hurt that it's also the most expensive U.S. zip code, too.
9. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
It seems as though Paul Allen has a thing for historic estates: the entrepreneur purchased the 10-acre "Thurston Estate" in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiit for $7.5 million.
The property boasts of a 12,000 square foot main house, an employee residence, a beach house, a boat shed, and even a private harbor (photo).
10. Upper East Side, New York City
Allen also dropped $25 million for a penthouse apartment in Manhattan's Upper East Side in 2011.
The purchase was probably because he was very happy with his 1996 buy: an apartment for $13.5 million in the same building, but on the 11th floor (photo).
11. Côte d'Azur, France
Allen's purchases aren't limited to U.S. estates, either. Paul bought Villa Maryland (photo) - a hilltop mansion in the exclusive community of St. Jean Cap-Ferrat found in the town of Côte d'Azur, in southeastern France.
With a staff of 12 people and Bono and Andrew Lloyd Webber as his neighbors, there's no wonder Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie borrowed the French home when they made appearances at the Cannes Film Festival.
12. Holland Park, London
According to The Herald, Allen is also a neighbor to Eddie Irvine and Richard Branson in the same cobblestone street of Holland Park Mews in London (photo). Apparently, Bonnie Greer and Elle Macpherson also live nearby!
13. Cinerama, Seattle
Paul Allen was also responsible for saving the Seattle's Cinerama from demolishing (photo).
Vulcan, his development company, refurbished Allen's favorite movie theater with "state-of-the-art Dolby sound and projection systems, including the world's first Christie 6P laser projector" before re-opening in 2014.
