How did the Nobel Prize get to be so prestigious?

Publicity. Frankly, the Nobel Society has done an outstanding job of publicizing its recipients, and through that publicity, it has eclipsed many other notable awards which are similarly prestigious and which are difficult to be awarded. read more

It seems to me that the Nobel prize was one of, if not the earliest of prizes for scientific achievement. read more

Like the winner of a decathlon, the Nobel Prize stands out for its superiority on a combination of factors, beginning with its unique origins, says Harriet Zuckerman, sociology professor emerita of Columbia University and author of Scientific Elite, a history of the Nobel Prizes. read more

Nobel did not emphasise discoveries, but they have historically been held in higher respect by the Nobel Prize Committee than inventions: 77% of the Physics Prizes have been given to discoveries, compared with only 23% to inventions. read more