The Nobel Foundation has given out this many prizes since 1901. A record number of names were submitted for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. Each winner receives a diploma, a medal (pictures) and a pretty big cash award. The last prize was added in 1968. In honor of the prizes that will be handed out this week, (which one will be awarded at a later date?) we take a look at the award's namesake and some memorable winners.
Alfred Nobel
The pacifist inventor - sometimes known by this nickname - established the Nobel Prizes in his will in 1895. (What did he invent?) He died a year later.
Curie family
Marie Curie who holds this esteemed distinction, her husband, their daughter and even their son-in-law each won a Nobel Prize in physics and/or chemistry.
Lawrence Bragg
The Australian scientist became the youngest winner in 1915 when he won this Nobel Prize along with this relative for their work in this field.
Albert Einstein
The German-born physicist finally won the 1921 Nobel Prize in physics for this research, not his most popular work.
Sir Winston Churchill
Many think the British prime minister won the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize (who won it?), but he actually was awarded this prize.
Martin Luther King. Jr.
The civil rights leader had given his most powerful speech the year before he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Henry A. Kissinger and Le Duc Tho
The U.S. Secretary of State and the North Vietnamese politician were awarded the 1973 Peace Prize for their roles in this agreement. Le Duc Tho declined his prize.
Mother Teresa
The Catholic nun won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work with impoverished people in the slums of this city.
Toni Morrison
The "Beloved" author became the first black woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature in 1993.
President Jimmy Carter
The former president - who was recently hospitalized - won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for these efforts since leaving the White House.
Leonid Hurwicz
The then 90-year-old Russian-born economist earned this distinction when he was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in economic sciences for his work in this field
President Barack Obama
The first African-American president - who had been in office less than a year - won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize and it caused some controversy.
