Biography

Katherine Graham – Biography Early Life and Education Katharine Graham was born on June 16, 1917, in New York City into a privileged and influential family. Her father, Eugene Meyer, was a successful financier who would later purchase The Washington Post, while her mother, Agnes Meyer, was a prominent activist and art patron. Growing up … Read more

Sally Ride – Biography Early Life and Education Sally Ride was born on May 26, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in a supportive family that encouraged intellectual curiosity. Her father was a political science professor, and her mother volunteered at a women’s prison. From an early age, Ride developed a love for … Read more

Mae Jemison – Biography Early Life and Education Mae Jemison was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama. When she was three, her family moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she grew up in a nurturing environment that encouraged her curiosity. Even as a child, Jemison was fascinated by space and science, often imagining herself … Read more

Katherine Johnson – Biography Early Life and Education Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. From an early age, she showed extraordinary talent in mathematics. Her parents recognized her potential and did everything they could to support her education, even though opportunities for African Americans were extremely limited … Read more

Vera Rubin – Biography Early Life and Education Vera Rubin was born on July 23, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Washington, D.C., where her fascination with the night sky began at a young age. Encouraged by her father, an electrical engineer, and her mother, a homemaker who valued education, Rubin developed a … Read more

Elizabeth Blackburn – Biography Early Life and Education Elizabeth Blackburn was born on November 26, 1948, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Raised in a family that valued education and science, both of her parents were physicians, which exposed her early to the world of medicine and research. From a young age, she showed a keen interest … Read more

Peter Higgs – Biography Early Life and Education Peter Higgs was born on May 29, 1929, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. As a child, he suffered from asthma, which often kept him indoors and focused on his studies. His father worked for the BBC as a sound engineer, which exposed young Peter to technology and … Read more

Tu Youyou – Biography Early Life and Education Tu Youyou was born on December 30, 1930, in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. Growing up during a time of war and hardship, Tu’s early life was shaped by political and social instability. Despite these challenges, her parents emphasized the value of education. Inspired by her own battle … Read more

Donna Strickland – Biography Early Life and Education Donna Strickland was born on May 27, 1959, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Growing up in a supportive family, she developed an early interest in science and problem-solving. Her father, an electrical engineer, often sparked her curiosity with discussions about technology and engineering. Encouraged by her parents and … Read more

Frances Arnold – Biography Early Life and Education Frances Arnold was born on July 25, 1956, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Growing up in a home that encouraged curiosity, she developed a love for problem-solving at a young age. Her father, William Howard Arnold, a nuclear physicist, exposed her early to science and engineering ideas. Although bright, … Read more

Brian Greene – Biography Early Life and Education Brian Greene was born on February 9, 1963, in New York City. Raised in Manhattan, he grew up in an intellectually stimulating environment. His father, Alan Greene, was a composer and voice teacher, while his mother, Eunice, was a former actress. From a young age, Brian displayed … Read more

Neil deGrasse Tyson – Biography Early Life and Education Neil deGrasse Tyson was born on October 5, 1958, in New York City. Raised in the Bronx, Tyson grew up in a middle-class household that valued education and intellectual curiosity. His father, Cyril deGrasse Tyson, was a sociologist and human resource commissioner for New York City, … Read more

Stephen Hawking – Biography Early Life and Education Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England, exactly 300 years after the death of Galileo Galilei, a coincidence often noted throughout his life. His parents, Frank and Isobel Hawking, were both highly educated, fostering a love of learning in their children. The family … Read more

Evan Spiegel – Biography Early Life and Education Evan Spiegel was born on June 4, 1990, in Los Angeles, California. Raised in a well-off family, both of his parents, John Spiegel and Melissa Ann Thomas, were successful lawyers. Growing up in Pacific Palisades, Evan had access to quality education and early exposure to technology and … Read more

Marc Benioff – Biography Early Life and Education Marc Benioff was born on September 25, 1964, in San Francisco, California. Growing up in the Bay Area, he was surrounded by the emerging technology culture of Silicon Valley. His father ran a local chain of department stores, while his mother was a homemaker. From a young … Read more

Miriam Adelson – Biography Early Life and Education Miriam Adelson was born Miriam Farbstein on October 10, 1945, in Tel Aviv, then part of Mandatory Palestine. Her parents, Polish Jewish immigrants, had escaped Europe ahead of the Holocaust, settling in the young Jewish homeland. Growing up, Miriam was influenced by her parents’ resilience and the … Read more

Gina Rinehart – Biography Early Life and Education Gina Rinehart was born on February 9, 1954, in Perth, Western Australia. She is the only child of Lang Hancock, a prominent mining magnate, and Hope Margaret Nicholas. Raised in a wealthy and influential family, Gina was exposed to the mining industry from a young age, often … Read more

Michael Dell – Biography Early Life and Education Michael Dell was born on February 23, 1965, in Houston, Texas, into a Jewish family that valued education and hard work. His father, Alexander Dell, was an orthodontist, while his mother, Lorraine, worked as a stockbroker. From an early age, Michael displayed an intense curiosity about technology … Read more

Anne Wojcicki – Biography Early Life and Education Anne Wojcicki was born on July 28, 1973, in Palo Alto, California, into a family deeply immersed in education and innovation. Her mother, Esther Wojcicki, was a well-respected educator and journalist, while her father, Stanley Wojcicki, was a professor of physics at Stanford University. Growing up in … Read more

Ursula Burns – Biography Early Life and Education Ursula Burns was born on September 20, 1958, in New York City, growing up in a low-income housing project on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Raised by a single mother, Olga Burns, Ursula’s early life was marked by financial hardship. Despite the challenges, her mother strongly … Read more

Indra Nooyi – Biography Early Life and Education Indra Nooyi was born on October 28, 1955, in Chennai, India. Growing up in a middle-class family, she was encouraged to focus on education and discipline from an early age. Her father worked at the State Bank of Hyderabad, while her mother managed the household and often … Read more

Marissa Mayer – Biography Early Life and Education Marissa Mayer was born on May 30, 1975, in Wausau, Wisconsin. Growing up in a middle-class family, her father worked as an environmental engineer while her mother taught art. From an early age, Mayer showed exceptional curiosity and a strong aptitude for learning. She excelled in math, … Read more

Howard Schultz – Biography Early Life and Education Howard Schultz was born on July 19, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. Raised in a working-class neighborhood, his father worked various low-paying jobs, including truck driving, while his mother stayed home to care for the family. Growing up in public housing, Schultz witnessed the financial struggles his … Read more

Ray Dalio – Biography Early Life and Education Ray Dalio was born on August 8, 1949, in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. His father was a jazz musician, and his mother was a homemaker. Growing up in a middle-class household, Dalio developed an early interest in investing. At just 12 years old, he bought his … Read more

Peter Thiel – Biography Early Life and Education Peter Thiel was born on October 11, 1967, in Frankfurt, West Germany. When he was just a baby, his family emigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Foster City, California. Thiel grew up in a family that valued education, discipline, and intellectual curiosity. From a young … Read more

Susan Wojcicki – Biography Early Life and Education Susan Wojcicki was born on July 5, 1968, in Santa Clara County, California, right in the heart of Silicon Valley. Raised in a highly intellectual family, her father was a physics professor at Stanford University, and her mother was a journalism teacher. From an early age, Susan … Read more

Tim Cook – Biography Early Life and Education Tim Cook was born on November 1, 1960, in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in the nearby town of Robertsdale. Growing up in a modest, hardworking family, Cook developed a strong work ethic from a young age. His father worked in a shipyard, while his mother handled the … Read more

Larry Ellison – Biography Early Life and Education Larry Ellison was born on August 17, 1944, in New York City. His early life was marked by uncertainty and change. Born to a single mother who was unable to care for him, Ellison was raised by his aunt and uncle in Chicago. Growing up in a … Read more

Carlos Slim – Biography Early Life and Education Carlos Slim was born on January 28, 1940, in Mexico City, Mexico. He grew up in a family of Lebanese descent, with strong business roots. His father, Julián Slim, owned a successful dry goods store and taught young Carlos valuable lessons about finance, bookkeeping, and investment from … Read more

Richard Branson – Biography Early Life and Education Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950, in Blackheath, London, England. Raised in a supportive and adventurous family, Branson struggled academically due to dyslexia, which made traditional schooling challenging. Despite these difficulties, his parents instilled in him a strong sense of independence and creativity. Branson attended … Read more