4. Stephen Hawking
1942
Stephen Hawking is one of the most accomplished theoretical physicists in history. His book A Brief History of Time has been sold in more than 20 million copies and translated into 35 languages. He is currently the Director of research of Cambridge’s Centre for Theoretical Cosmology. He achieved his success despite being plagued with ALS (or Lou Gehrig’s disease) that left him in a wheelchair. He communicates by using a single muscle in his cheek, tied to the computer that interprets for him. Professor Hawking is wildly recognized as one of the greatest minds of the 20th century.
