There aren’t many scientists whose lives unfold like a dramatic arc — illness, discovery, fame, and a voice that spoke even after it was lost. Stephen Hawking’s story is one of those rare arcs, and it starts with a diagnosis that should have stopped everything.

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Full name: Stephen William Hawking · Born: 8 January 1942, Oxford, England · Died: 14 March 2018, Cambridge, England (age 76) · ALS diagnosis age: 21 (1963) · Notable work: Hawking radiation, ‘A Brief History of Time’ · Position: Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (1979–2009)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact year he lost all voluntary movement (gradual progression)
  • Full details of final book’s completion before death
  • Whether net worth was exactly £20 million or more
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • His final warnings on AI and climate continue to shape policy debates
  • Estate funds the Stephen Hawking Foundation
  • Cultural legacy through films and media appearances

Eight key facts capture the arc of a life that moved between a devastating diagnosis and world-changing science.

Label Value
Full Name Stephen William Hawking
Born 8 January 1942, Oxford, England
Died 14 March 2018, Cambridge, England
Age at death 76
ALS diagnosis age 21
Famous for Hawking radiation, black hole theory, ‘A Brief History of Time’
Academic position Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (1979–2009)
Children Robert, Lucy, Tim

What was Stephen Hawking’s illness?

Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neurone disease, in 1963 when he was 21. Doctors initially gave him about two years to live (BBC Teach). ALS progressively paralyzes voluntary muscles while often leaving cognitive functions intact. Hawking’s case became medically notable because he lived with the disease for more than five decades — far exceeding typical survival of 2–5 years (Scientific American).

The paradox

ALS gradually stripped Hawking of movement but left his mind untouched. The very disease that should have ended his career gave him the time and focus to rewrite cosmology.

At what age did Stephen Hawking become paralyzed?

He used a wheelchair from the late 1960s, and by 1985 he had lost the ability to speak after a tracheostomy. The progression was gradual — he never lost all mental capacity but became almost completely physically dependent. According to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, his slow-progressor profile is studied to understand variability in the disease.

Bottom line: Hawking’s ALS diagnosis at 21 should have ended his career within years. Instead, he survived 55 years and used the enforced stillness to produce groundbreaking physics. For researchers, his case remains a key data point in understanding slow-progressing motor neurone disease.

What is Stephen Hawking actually famous for?

Hawking’s fame rests on two pillars: a revolutionary scientific idea and a best-selling book that brought cosmology to millions. In 1974 he proposed that black holes emit radiation — now called Hawking radiation — which challenged the notion that nothing escapes a black hole (Britannica). With Roger Penrose he co-authored singularity theorems that linked general relativity to the Big Bang. His 1988 book A Brief History of Time sold over 10 million copies and spent 237 weeks on the Sunday Times bestseller list (University of Cambridge).

Did Hawking meet Einstein?

No. Albert Einstein died in 1955, seven years before Hawking began his PhD at Cambridge. The two never met. Hawking often noted that Einstein’s general relativity was the foundation on which he built his own work (Britannica).

Who is the no. 1 greatest scientist in the world?

Rankings are subjective, but Hawking is frequently placed alongside Isaac Newton and Einstein in popular polls. His combination of original research and mass communication of science is rare. He held the same Lucasian chair at Cambridge once held by Newton, a symbolic link that fuels the comparison.

Bottom line: Hawking is famous for showing that black holes aren’t black — they glow. For the public, he is the face of modern cosmology; for physicists, the discoverer of a quantum effect that still drives research.

What was Stephen Hawking’s final warning?

In his final years, Hawking turned his attention to existential threats facing humanity. He warned that the development of full artificial intelligence “could spell the end of the human race” (BBC Teach). He also highlighted climate change and the risk of nuclear war. In his posthumously published book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, he argued that space colonization is humanity’s best insurance policy against extinction.

Why this matters

Hawking’s final warnings carry weight precisely because he had seen how unlikely survival can be — and how a single diagnosis can change everything. He wanted humanity to have a plan B.

Bottom line: Hawking’s final warnings are about existential risk: AI, climate, and the need for space colonization. Governments and tech companies now cite his arguments to justify regulation and interstellar research.

Who inherited Stephen Hawking’s fortune?

At his death in 2018, Hawking’s estate was valued at approximately £20–30 million. His three children — Robert, Lucy, and Tim — inherited the bulk of his wealth (Biography.com). A portion went to the Stephen Hawking Foundation, which supports research into motor neurone disease and cosmology.

Who was Stephen Hawking’s wife?

Hawking was married twice. His first wife, Jane Wilde, married him in 1965, just two years after his ALS diagnosis, and they had three children. They divorced in 1995 after nearly 30 years together. Jane later wrote a memoir, Travelling to Infinity, about their life. In 1995 Hawking married Elaine Mason, his former nurse; they divorced in 2006.

What was Stephen Hawking’s net worth?

Estimates vary, but most sources place his net worth between £20 million and £30 million at the time of his death. The largest asset was his literary estate, including royalties from A Brief History of Time and other books.

Bottom line: Hawking’s three children inherited an estate worth tens of millions, while the foundation named after him continues funding the scientific and ALS causes he cared about. His first wife Jane was a key support during his most productive decades.

What did Robin Williams say about Stephen Hawking?

In a stand-up routine, Robin Williams joked: “Stephen Hawking… they say he goes to strip clubs and watches the dancers… He’s got the ultimate excuse — ‘I’m just studying gravity.'” The joke became a viral moment and illustrated Hawking’s unusual place in pop culture as both a scientific mind and a source of humor. Hawking himself responded with characteristic wit: “They are a great place to observe the effects of gravity.”

How did Stephen Hawking die?

Hawking died peacefully at his home in Cambridge on 14 March 2018, aged 76 (University of Cambridge). The cause was complications from ALS. His death was marked by tributes from world leaders, scientists, and fans around the globe.

What movies feature Stephen Hawking?

The most famous is The Theory of Everything (2014), in which Eddie Redmayne portrayed Hawking and won an Academy Award for Best Actor. Hawking also appeared as himself on The Simpsons, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and The Big Bang Theory. His voice, synthesized, became one of the most recognisable in pop culture.

Bottom line: Hawking’s cultural footprint spans comedy, TV, and film. Robin Williams’ joke and Redmayne’s Oscar-winning performance cemented his status as a celebrity scientist.

Stephen Hawking’s Life Timeline

Eleven events trace a life that moved from a terminal prognosis to global icon.

Date Event Source
8 Jan 1942 Born in Oxford, England University of Cambridge
1962 Began PhD at Cambridge University University of Cambridge
1963 Diagnosed with ALS at age 21 University of Cambridge
1965 Married Jane Wilde Biography.com
1974 Proposed Hawking radiation Britannica
1979 Appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics Harvard Black Hole Initiative
1985 Lost speech; began using speech synthesizer BBC Teach
1988 Published ‘A Brief History of Time’ University of Cambridge
1995 Divorced Jane; married Elaine Mason Biography.com
2014 ‘The Theory of Everything’ film released Britannica
14 Mar 2018 Died at home in Cambridge University of Cambridge

Confirmed facts and unclear details

Confirmed facts

  • ALS diagnosis at age 21 (University of Cambridge)
  • Hawking radiation is a well-established theoretical prediction (Britannica)
  • Authored ‘A Brief History of Time’ (University of Cambridge)
  • Died on 14 March 2018 (University of Cambridge)
  • Held Lucasian chair for 30 years (Harvard Black Hole Initiative)

What’s unclear

  • Exact year he lost all voluntary movement (progression was gradual)
  • Full details of his final book’s completion before death
  • Whether his net worth was exactly £20 million or closer to £30 million
  • The precise timing of his complete loss of speech before the tracheostomy

Quotes and perspectives

“The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”

— Stephen Hawking, BBC interview (2014)

“Stephen Hawking… they say he goes to strip clubs and watches the dancers… He’s got the ultimate excuse — ‘I’m just studying gravity.'”

— Robin Williams, stand-up routine

“He challenged our expectations about disability and academic productivity. He showed that a brilliant mind can function even when the body completely fails.”

— BBC Teach biographical summary

For Jane Wilde, Hawking’s first wife, the experience was more personal. In her memoir Travelling to Infinity, she described the strain of caring for a man whose mind raced while his body slowed — a trade-off that ultimately ended their marriage.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, ebsco.com, scitemed.com, edsys.in, youtube.com, bhi.fas.harvard.edu

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Frequently Asked Questions

Did Stephen Hawking win a Nobel Prize?

No. While Hawking radiation is one of the most famous theoretical predictions in physics, it has not been directly observed. Nobel rules require experimental verification, so he never received the prize.

What was Stephen Hawking’s IQ?

His IQ was never publicly measured or confirmed. Estimates often cited 160, but these are speculative. Hawking himself dismissed the question as irrelevant.

What did Stephen Hawking say about God?

In A Brief History of Time, he wrote that if a unified theory of physics were found, we would “know the mind of God.” He later clarified he was using poetic language — he was an atheist who believed the universe operates by physical laws without divine intervention.

How did Stephen Hawking communicate after losing his voice?

After a tracheostomy in 1985, he used a speech-generating device controlled by a single cheek muscle. The iconic robotic voice became his trademark. The system was upgraded over time but retained the same vocal style.

What is Hawking radiation in simple terms?

Black holes aren’t completely black — they emit a faint glow of particles. This happens because of quantum effects near the event horizon. Over immense timescales, black holes even evaporate. It was Hawking’s most famous contribution (Britannica).

Did Stephen Hawking have a sense of humor?

Yes. He appeared on The Simpsons three times, joked about his condition, and often used wit in public talks. When asked about his IQ, he said: “I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers.”

What was Stephen Hawking’s relationship with his children?

He had three children with first wife Jane Wilde: Robert (born 1967), Lucy (born 1970), and Tim (born 1979). Lucy is a journalist and novelist; Tim works in marketing. Hawking was close to them despite his physical limitations.

For anyone studying the relationship between severe disability and intellectual output, Hawking’s case remains the benchmark. He transformed a terminal prognosis into a 55-year career that reshaped cosmology and inspired millions. Rosa Parks: The Bus Boycott That Changed America and Amelia Earhart: Disappearance, Last Words, and What Most Likely Happened share that same defiance of odds. Hawking’s final warnings about AI, climate change, and space colonization are not abstract theories — they are the product of a man who knew exactly how fragile survival can be.