The Nobel Prize
The story behind the world's most prestigious award
Who Was Alfred Nobel?
Alfred Bernhard Nobel (1833–1896) was a Swedish chemist, engineer, and inventor best known for inventing dynamite. Born in Stockholm, Nobel held 355 patents and amassed great wealth through his inventions and business ventures.
Legend has it that Nobel was deeply troubled when a French newspaper mistakenly published his obituary under the headline "The Merchant of Death is Dead." This prompted him to reconsider his legacy and leave the bulk of his fortune to establish prizes honoring those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.
The Nobel Prize Today
The Nobel Prize is awarded annually in six categories: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. Winners receive a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash prize — currently 11 million Swedish kronor (about $1 million USD).
The prizes are awarded on December 10th each year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, in ceremonies held in Stockholm and Oslo.
About AllThingsNobel
AllThingsNobel is an educational website dedicated to celebrating and sharing the incredible stories behind Nobel Prize laureates. Our mission is to make the Nobel Prize accessible and inspiring to everyone.
From Marie Curie to Malala Yousafzai, we cover the full history of Nobel Prize winners across all six categories.