Pierre-Gilles de Gennes
Scientists

Pierre-Gilles de Gennes Net Worth

Pierre-Gilles de Gennes was a French physicist born in Paris, France on October 24, 1932. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1991 for his study of the order phenomena in liquid crystals and polymers. He was initially schooled at home and went on to study at the Ecole Normale Superieure, becoming an engineer at Atomic Research Centre and later a professor at the University of Paris-Sud, Orsay campus. He also worked at the College de France as a professor and researcher before becoming the director of the Ecole Superieure Physique et de Chimie Industrielles. His findings in relation to liquid crystals and polymers are considered to be one of the most significant findings in the history of physics.
Pierre-Gilles de Gennes is a member of Scientists

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Physicist
Birth Day October 24, 1932
Birth Place Paris, France, French
Age 88 YEARS OLD
Died On May 18, 2007(2007-05-18) (aged 74)\nOrsay, France
Birth Sign Scorpio
Alma mater École Normale Supérieure University of Paris
Awards ForMemRS (1984) Matteucci Medal (1987) Harvey Prize (1988) Lorentz Medal (1990) Wolf Prize (1990) Nobel Prize for Physics (1991) Eringen Medal (1998)
Fields Physics
Institutions ESPCI Collège de France University of Paris XI

💰 Net worth: $300,000 (2024)

Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, a renowned physicist and highly respected figure in the French scientific community, is estimated to have a net worth of $300,000 in 2024. Throughout his illustrious career, de Gennes made significant contributions to the field of physics, particularly in the study of liquid crystals and polymers. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1991 for his groundbreaking discoveries. Despite his numerous achievements and accolades, de Gennes remained committed to advancing scientific knowledge rather than accumulating personal wealth. His dedication to research and scientific exploration continues to inspire generations of aspiring scientists around the world.

Biography/Timeline

1955

He was born in Paris, France, and was home-schooled to the age of 12. By the age of 13, he had adopted adult reading habits and was visiting museums. Later, de Gennes studied at the École Normale Supérieure. After leaving the École in 1955, he became a research Engineer at the Saclay center of the Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique, working mainly on neutron scattering and magnetism, with advice from A. Abragam and Jacques Friedel. He defended his Ph.D. in 1957 at the University of Paris.

1959

In 1959, he was a postdoctoral research visitor with Charles Kittel at the University of California, Berkeley, and then spent 27 months in the French Navy. In 1961, he was assistant professor in Orsay and soon started the Orsay group on superconductors. In 1968, he switched to studying liquid crystals.

1971

In 1971, he became professor at the Collège de France, and participated in STRASACOL (a joint action of Strasbourg, Saclay and Collège de France) on polymer physics. From 1980 on, he became interested in interfacial problems: the dynamics of wetting and adhesion.

1984

The Royal Society of Chemistry awards the De Gennes Prize biennially, in his honour. He was elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS) in 1984. He was awarded A. Cemal Eringen Medal in 1998.

1988

He was awarded the Harvey Prize, Lorentz Medal and Wolf Prize in 1988 and 1990. In 1991, he received the Nobel Prize in physics. He was then Director of the École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris (ESPCI), a post he held from 1976 until his retirement in 2002.

1997

P.G. de Gennes has also received the F.A. Cotton Medal for Excellence in Chemical Research of the American Chemical Society in 1997, the Holweck Prize from the joint French and British Physical Society; the Ampere Prize, French Academy of Science; the gold medal from the French CNRS; the Matteuci Medal, Italian Academy; the Harvey Prize, Israel; and polymer awards from both APS and ACS.

2003

In 2003 he was one of 22 Nobel Laureates who signed the Humanist Manifesto.

2007

On 22 May 2007, his death was made public as official messages and tributes poured in.

Some Pierre-Gilles de Gennes images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.