Noam Chomsky Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Height, Net Worth, Books, Awards, Career

Noam Chomsky, born on December 7, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, and social critic.

Widely regarded as the father of modern linguistics, he revolutionized the field with his theory of generative grammar.

Chomsky earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and spent much of his academic career at MIT.

Profile

• Full Name: Avram Noam Chomsky
• Stage Name: Noam Chomsky
• Born: December 7, 1928
• Age: 96 years old
• Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Linguist, Philosopher, Cognitive Scientist, Historian, Social Critic, Professor Emeritus
• Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
• Parent: William Chomsky (father), Elsie Simonofsky Chomsky (mother)
• Siblings: David Chomsky (brother)
• Spouse: Valeria Wasserman
• Children: Aviva Chomsky, Harry Chomsky, Diane Chomsky
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Noam Chomsky was born on December 7, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, he is 96 years old. He was born into a Jewish family of Eastern European descent.

His father, William Chomsky, was a Hebrew scholar and professor who immigrated from Ukraine, while his mother, Elsie Simonofsky Chomsky, was an educator and activist. He has one younger brother named David Chomsky, who became a doctor.

Chomsky was raised in a culturally Jewish household and his ethnicity is Ashkenazi Jewish.

He showed an early interest in language and politics. At age 10, he wrote an editorial for his school newspaper about the rise of fascism in Europe.

He attended Central High School in Philadelphia and later enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied philosophy, linguistics, and mathematics.

He completed his undergraduate and doctoral studies there, earning a PhD in linguistics in 1955. During his time at the university, he was mentored by Zellig Harris, a prominent linguist, which helped shape his future groundbreaking work in the field.

Career

Noam Chomsky’s career began in the 1950s and has spanned over seven decades, making him one of the most influential intellectuals of the modern era. His groundbreaking work in linguistics changed the way scholars understand language, the mind, and human cognition.

In 1955, Chomsky joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he worked as a researcher and later became a professor. His 1957 book Syntactic Structures introduced the theory of generative grammar, which proposed that the ability to use language is innate to humans and governed by a set of universal rules.

This theory challenged the behaviorist views of language learning and established Chomsky as a pioneer in modern linguistics.

Throughout the 1960s and beyond, he expanded his work to include philosophy, cognitive science, and logic. He also became a leading critic of U.S. foreign policy, capitalism, and mainstream media.

His political writings, such as Manufacturing Consent (co-authored with Edward S. Herman), exposed the ways in which media serves powerful interests.

Chomsky has published over 100 books covering topics in linguistics, philosophy, politics, and global affairs. He has lectured widely across the world and influenced a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, computer science, and education.

After retiring from MIT in 1996, he became a laureate professor at the University of Arizona. Despite his age, Chomsky continues to write, speak, and contribute to academic and public discourse globally.

Awards and Nominations

• Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences (1988)
• Helmholtz Medal (1998)
• Ben Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science (1999)
• Erasmus Prize (2010)
• Numerous honorary degrees from universities worldwide
• Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times

Social Media

Twitter handle: @noamchomsky

Personal Life

Noam Chomsky, the renowned American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, and social critic, has lived a rich and devoted personal life. He was first married to Carol Chomsky, an American linguist and education specialist.

The couple got married in 1949 and shared a strong and enduring bond until her death on December 19, 2008. Together, they had three children: Aviva Chomsky, a historian and professor; Harry Chomsky and Diane Chomsky.

In 2014, several years after the passing of his first wife, Chomsky married Valeria Wasserman, a Brazilian translator. Noam Chomsky stands at a height of approximately 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 meters).

Filmography

Though primarily an academic, Chomsky’s lectures and interviews have been featured in various documentaries and educational videos, such as:

• Manufacturing Consent (1992, Documentary)
• Requiem for the American Dream (2015, Documentary)
• The Power of Nightmares (2004, TV Series – Interviews)

Net Worth

Noam Chomsky has an estimated net worth of $5 million. His wealth has been accumulated primarily through his long and influential academic career, spanning decades of teaching, research, and publishing.

Chomsky has authored over 100 books covering linguistics, philosophy, cognitive science, politics, and media criticism, many of which have become academic staples and bestsellers in their fields.

In addition to book royalties, Chomsky has earned income from lecture fees, interviews, and contributions to educational and political documentaries.