Daniel Kahneman Biography: Wife, Children, Net Worth, Books, Age, Parents, Height, Awards

Daniel Kahneman, born on March 5, 1934, is an Israeli-American psychologist and Nobel Prize-winning economist best known for his pioneering work on behavioral economics and the psychology of judgment and decision-making.

His groundbreaking research, especially alongside Amos Tversky, transformed economic theory and earned him global recognition.

Profile

• Full Name: Daniel Kahneman
• Stage Name: Daniel Kahneman
• Born: March 5, 1934
• Age: Passed away on March 27, 2024 (aged 90)
• Birthplace: Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine (now Israel)
• Nationality: Israeli-American
• Occupation: Psychologist, author, economist
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
• Parent: Ephrahim Kahneman (father), Rachel Kahneman (mother)
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Anne Treisman
• Children: Lenore Shoham
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Daniel Kahneman was born on March 5, 1934, in Tel Aviv, during the British Mandate of Palestine (now Israel).

He was 90 years old at the time of his death in 2024. He was raised in Paris, France, and later fled with his family during the Nazi occupation in World War II.

His father, Ephrahim Kahneman, was a research chemist, and his mother was Rachel Kahneman.

He was Jewish by religion and ethnically Israeli-Jewish. After World War II, Kahneman returned to Palestine (soon to become Israel) and pursued higher education.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and mathematics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1954.

He later obtained his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1961.

Career

Daniel Kahneman began his career as a lecturer in psychology at the Hebrew University in the 1960s.

During this time, he started a legendary collaboration with fellow Israeli psychologist Amos Tversky, with whom he conducted groundbreaking studies on human judgment and decision-making.

Their work gave rise to prospect theory, which challenges traditional economic assumptions of rational decision-making. This theory later became the foundation of behavioral economics.

Kahneman held academic positions at several prestigious institutions, including the University of British Columbia, the University of Michigan, and Princeton University, where he served as professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs.

In 2002, Kahneman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, a rare honor for someone without formal training in economics.

He was recognized for integrating psychological insights into economic science, especially concerning human judgment under uncertainty.

Beyond academia, he authored the international bestseller Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011), which explores the dual systems of thought intuitive and analytical that shape human behavior.

The book has been influential in fields ranging from public policy to finance and healthcare.

Even after retirement, Kahneman continued writing, speaking at conferences, and contributing to research in psychology, economics, and cognitive science.

Awards and Nominations

• Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2002)
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013, awarded by U.S. President Barack Obama)
• Grawemeyer Award in Psychology
• Multiple honorary doctorates from institutions around the world

Personal Life

Israeli-American psychologist Daniel Kahneman was married to renowned cognitive psychologist Anne Treisman from 1978 until her death in 2018.

He was widowed and had one child, Lenore Shoham.

Regarding his height, Daniel Kahneman stood at 5 feet 7 inches tall which is approximately (170 cm) tall, there is no information about any of his previous romantic relationship before his marriage to Anne Treisman.

Books and Publications

• Attention and Effort (1973)
• Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases (1982, with Amos Tversky and Paul Slovic)
• Choices, Values, and Frames (2000, with Amos Tversky)
• Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011)
• Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment (2021, with Olivier Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein)

Featured In

• Documentaries on behavioral economics and psychology
• Frequently cited in TED Talks and academic panels

Net Worth

At the time of his death in 2024, Daniel Kahneman had an estimated net worth of $5 million.

His wealth came primarily from his academic positions, public speaking engagements, and especially the massive success of his bestselling books like Thinking, Fast and Slow.

He also earned royalties, consultation fees, and research grants throughout his long and influential career.

Despite his financial success, he was known for his modest lifestyle and focus on scholarly work over commercial ventures.