Q&A with Breakthrough Science Prize Founder Yuri Milner

Russian-born entrepreneur co-founded the Breakthrough science prize.

By Steve Nadis
Mar 10, 2017 6:00 AMNov 22, 2019 10:34 PM
Yuri Milner - Getty - DSC-CR0417_21.jpg
Yuri Milner (Credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Hubert Burda Media)

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Yuri Milner was pretty much destined to do something in science. Born in Moscow in November 1961, he was named after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who, about six months earlier, had become the first person to venture into outer space. Inspired by Carl Sagan and others, Milner majored in physics at Moscow State University. Then, in the middle of earning a Ph.D. in particle physics, he quit. Eventually, he started his own internet company and invested in other companies like Facebook, quickly amassing a fortune.

Since then, Milner has used his wealth to support science. He co-founded the Breakthrough Prize, which recognizes important advancements in physics, life sciences and math by awarding $3 million prizes in each category.

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