He refused the Millenium Prize in 2010 — yes, the $1 million. Although most of us would be very happy if someone handed us a million dollars, others prefer fame to fortune. But Perelman has a different opinion. Or, being wise or right are relative things depending on how you see the world. “Emptiness is everywhere and it can be calculated, which gives us a great opportunity. In 2010, he refused the $1 million Clay Millennium prize he earned for solving one of mathematics' most elusive theorems.
I know how to control the universe. Russian mathematician Grigory Perelman is one of the latter. Dr Grigory Perelman prefers to live as a recluse in his grim cockroach-infested flat in St Petersburg. Perelman was also known for refusing prizes (no disrespect intended).
Redditor explains why Perelman refused the million dollar prize for proving the Poincare conjecture: issues with the modern math research community
One million dollars and the Fields Medal, or the math world’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. But the private Perelman shrugged off the invite to accept the cash, saying that the knowledge he gained from proving the conjecture was more valuable than any monetary gain.
Below, the short version.
We, his contemporaries, feel sure that a million dollars is the equivalent of happiness in life and that one shouldn’t refuse such presents. He said: 'I'm not interested in money or fame.' Redditor explains why Perelman refused the million dollar prize for proving the Poincare conjecture Long story very short: as Grigori Perelman didn't want to be a figurehead for a mathematical community that even tolerated a mathematician who tried to take away some credit from him, he chose to not accept the prize. So tell me, why should I run for a million?" He said that his contribution is no greater than that of Richard Hamilton, the mathematician who suggested a program for the solution. Yes, being a genius doesn’t make one wise or right. When asked for the reason he refused the million dollar prize, Perelman said, "Emptiness is everywhere and it can be calculated, which gives us a great opportunity.