Net Worth Ranker
What Is Stephen Hawking’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on March 13, 2018, Stephen Hawking, the esteemed English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author, had a net worth of $20 million. His intellectual contributions, coupled with his success as an author of popular science books, primarily contributed to his financial standing. His most successful book, “A Brief History of Time,” remained on the bestseller list for an impressive 237 weeks, significantly boosting his income through royalties.
Early Life and Education
Stephen William Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, United Kingdom. His parents were Frank (1905–1986) and Isobel Eileen Hawking (née Walker; 1915–2013). He began his education at Byron House School in London, and later attended St. Albans High School for Girls for a brief period when young boys were allowed to enroll. He then attended St. Albans School, displaying an aptitude for mathematics and science. His early exposure to science, including his work building a computer with his math teacher from an old telephone switchboard, clock parts, and other items, laid the foundation for his later academic achievements. In 1959, he received a scholarship to Oxford at age 17 and graduated with honors in physics. He pursued his Ph.D. at Cambridge, starting in 1962, and earned his doctorate in applied mathematics and theoretical physics in 1966, specializing in general relativity and cosmology. In March 1966, his essay “Singularities and the Geometry of Space-Time” was awarded the Adams Prize.
Career Highlights and Achievements
Hawking’s career was marked by groundbreaking research and widely read publications. In 1974, he achieved scientific acclaim for proving that black holes are not the information vacuums previously believed. He demonstrated that matter, in the form of radiation, can escape the gravitational pull of a collapsed star, a theory known as Hawking Radiation. In September 2010, his book “The Grand Design” sparked controversy by challenging the concept of divine creation of the universe, arguing that the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics. In 2002, Hawking was ranked number 25 in the BBC’s poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. His work on black holes and cosmology established him as a leading figure in theoretical physics. His role as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge from 1979 to 2009 further solidified his academic reputation. Moreover, Stephen Hawking’s earnings were boosted by occasional television appearances, such as his guest spot on “The Big Bang Theory,” and through various documentaries about his life and work.
Health Challenges and Personal Life
While in graduate school, Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a motor neuron disease. Doctors initially gave him a life expectancy of two years. Despite the progression of the disease, which gradually paralyzed him, he continued his research and writing, using a speech-generating device to communicate. In his personal life, Stephen Hawking married Jane Wilde in 1965, and they had three children: Robert, born in May 1967, Lucy, born in November 1969, and Timothy, born in April 1979. He and Jane divorced in 1995, and he married Elaine Mason in September 1995. They divorced in 2006, after which he resumed closer relationships with Jane, his children, and his grandchildren. His intellectual property and publications continued to generate income for his estate even after his death in 2018.
