While pursuing his Ph.D. at Cambridge, Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Though doctors initially gave him only a few years to live, the disease progressed more slowly than expected. During this period, he became engaged to Jane Wilde. The couple married and later had three children: sons Robert and Timothy Hawking, and a daughter, Lucy Hawking.
Hawking and Jane eventually divorced in 1995. That same year, he married Elaine Mason, a nurse who had worked with him. This marriage lasted 11 years before ending in divorce in 2006.
As his condition deteriorated, Hawking lost his ability to speak and relied on technology for communication. A speech-generating device was initially installed in his wheelchair, and later, Intel developed a specially designed system that allowed him to communicate through his facial expressions and brain signals. These innovations enabled him to continue his academic work and public outreach effectively.
Throughout his life, Hawking also became an advocate for disability rights and independence for those living with severe physical conditions. His resilience and the support of adaptive technologies set a powerful example worldwide.
Stephen Hawking passed away in 2018, leaving behind a profound legacy in science and popular culture. Although his exact annual salary is not publicly known, his estimated net worth at the time of his death was over USD 20 million. This wealth reflected not only his academic achievements but also book royalties, lecture appearances, and documentary features.
Return to the previous page| Birth Date: | 8 Jan, 1942 |
| Age: | 78 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United Kingdom |
| Birth Place: | Oxford |
| residence: | England |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author |
| Spouse: | Jane Wilde Hawking[1965-1991] Elaine Mason[1995-2006] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 20 million |
