What Do Nobel Prize Winners Receive for Their Extraordinary Achievements?

The Nobel Prize is one of the most respected and well-known international awards, given every year to honor exceptional achievements in different fields like science, literature, medicine, peace, and economics. It is seen as the highest form of recognition for human creativity, knowledge, and service to humanity. Many people wonder what recipients actually receive when they win this prestigious award.

What do Nobel Prize Winners get?

The Nobel Prize winners, also known as laureates, receive several special honors as a reward for their outstanding contributions to humanity. These include:

• A gold medal symbolizing excellence and achievement
• A Nobel diploma personally designed for each winner
• Prize money, worth around 11 million Swedish kronor
• Global recognition and respect for their contribution to society

The Nobel Medal

Every Nobel laureate receives a beautifully designed gold medal.

Design and Features

• The front side (obverse) of the medal shows the image of Alfred Nobel, the founder of the Nobel Prize.
• The reverse side has different designs depending on the field — for example, physics, chemistry, and literature have unique artwork.
• Each medal also includes the winner’s name engraved on it.

Material and Size

• Before 1980, the medals were made from 23-carat gold.
• Since then, they are made from 18-carat green gold plated with 24-carat gold.
• Each medal weighs about 175 grams and measures around 66 millimeters in diameter.

Interesting Fact

During World War II, two Nobel medals belonging to German scientists were dissolved in acid by Hungarian chemist George de Hevesy to prevent them from being seized by the Nazis. After the war, the gold was recovered and the medals were re-cast — showing how valuable these awards truly are!

The Nobel Diploma

Each Nobel Prize winner also receives a handcrafted diploma.

About the Diploma

• The King of Sweden presents the diplomas for all Nobel Prizes except the Peace Prize, which is awarded in Norway.
• Every diploma is individually designed by Swedish and Norwegian artists, making each one unique.
• It contains the laureate’s name, a short citation explaining their contribution, and artistic decorations.

Fun Fact

While most diplomas include a citation, the Nobel Peace Prize diplomas do not include one — they simply mention the recipient’s name and achievement.

The Cash Award

One of the most talked-about parts of the Nobel Prize is the prize money that accompanies the medal and diploma.

Prize Amount

• The amount changes slightly every year depending on the Nobel Foundation’s income.
• In the 1980s, the prize money was about 880,000 Swedish kronor per award.
• As of 2023, each Nobel Prize winner receives 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately 1 million US dollars).

Sharing the Prize

• If two people share a Nobel Prize, the amount is divided equally.
• If three winners share, the committee may divide it equally or give one-half to one and one-quarter each to the others.

The  Nobel Ceremony

The Nobel Prizes are awarded every year on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

• Most ceremonies take place in Stockholm, Sweden, while the Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, Norway.
• The event includes speeches, classical music, and a grand banquet attended by royal families, scientists, and diplomats.