Billionaire Jody Allen to Sell Seattle Seahawks, Donate Proceeds to Charity

The sister of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen plans to sell the NFL team and use the funds for philanthropic efforts.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Jody Allen, the billionaire owner of the Seattle Seahawks, has announced plans to sell the NFL team and donate the proceeds to charity. Allen, the sister of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, has overseen the Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers since her brother's death in 2018. With the Seahawks' recent Super Bowl victory, Allen is now looking to exit the sports ownership business and focus on her extensive philanthropic work.

Why it matters

Jody Allen's decision to sell the Seahawks and donate the proceeds to charity is a significant move that highlights her commitment to her late brother's philanthropic legacy. As the trustee of Paul Allen's estate, Jody Allen has already overseen the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers for an estimated $4 billion, and the Seahawks sale is expected to generate another substantial sum that will be directed towards various charitable causes.

The details

Jody Allen, the 67-year-old chair and trustee of the Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers, has decided to sell the NFL team following their recent Super Bowl victory. The decision comes as part of the fulfillment of her late brother Paul Allen's will, which stipulated that his assets, including the Seahawks, the Trail Blazers, and a stake in the Seattle Sounders, be sold to fund his charitable foundations. While a spokesperson for the Allen estate has stated that the Seahawks are not currently for sale, they acknowledged that 'that will change at some point'.

  • Jody Allen became the owner of the Seahawks and Trail Blazers after the 2018 death of her brother, Paul Allen.
  • In September 2022, the Allen estate entered a formal agreement to sell the Trail Blazers for an estimated $4 billion.
  • The Seahawks won Super Bowl LX on February 9, 2026.

The players

Jody Allen

The 67-year-old chair and trustee of the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers, and the sister of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Paul Allen

The late Microsoft co-founder and longtime owner of the Seahawks and Trail Blazers, who left his assets to be sold and the proceeds donated to charity upon his death in 2018.

Pete Carroll

The winningest coach in Seahawks history, who stepped down from his position in 2023 after leading the team to its first Super Bowl title.

John Schneider

The Seahawks' general manager who was elevated to the position after Carroll's departure, and then hired Mike Macdonald as the new head coach.

Mike Macdonald

The Seahawks' current head coach, who has led the team to a total of 27 wins in his two seasons and the Super Bowl LX championship.

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What they’re saying

“Pete is the winningest coach in Seahawks history, brought the city its first Super Bowl title, and created a tremendous impact over the past 14 years on the field and in the community.”

— Jody Allen (Seahawks press release)

“Estates of this size and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to wind down. There is no pre-ordained timeline by which the teams must be sold. Until then, my focus—and that of our teams—is on winning.”

— Jody Allen (Seahawks press release)

What’s next

The Allen estate has stated that the Seahawks will be sold at some point, though no specific timeline has been provided. The sale of the team is expected to generate significant funds that will be donated to Jody Allen's various philanthropic efforts.

The takeaway

Jody Allen's decision to sell the Seattle Seahawks and donate the proceeds to charity exemplifies her commitment to continuing her late brother Paul Allen's philanthropic legacy. As the trustee of his estate, Jody Allen has already overseen the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Seahawks sale is the next step in fulfilling Paul Allen's vision of using his wealth to support important causes and initiatives.