SCIENCE

Person Who Purchased James Watson’s Nobel Prize Giving It Back

(Photo : Getty Images/Matthew Peyton)

Last week, the 1962 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine that James Watson received for co-discovering the double helical structure of DNA was sold by Christie's at auction.

An anonymous phone buyer paid $4.1 million for the medal which was considerably more than the expected selling price.

Through a spokesperson, the buyer said he is returning the medal to Watson, reports The Guardian.

The buyer, Alisher Usmanov, is the richest person in Russia. He was an early investor in Facebook. His primary investments are with mining iron ore and mobile phones.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, his net worth is estimated to be $14.4 billion, reports Bloomberg.

According to Watson's spokesperson David Kass, Usmanov had contacted Watson before the auction and said that he would give him cash to donate to charity if he would not go through with the auction, reports The New York Times.

"Dr. Watson graciously told him that he wanted the auction to continue," according to Kass. "He didn't think it would be right to just call it off, and he wanted to see how it would play out."

"In my opinion, a situation in which an outstanding scientist has to sell a medal recognizing his achievements is unacceptable," Usmanov said. "James Watson is one of the greatest biologists in the history of mankind and his award for the discovery of DNA structure must belong to him."

Prior to the auction, Watson said he would contribute some of the money to the academic and scientific institutions he has been affiliated with throughout his career.

He also said he would be interested in a David Hockney painting.

More recently Watson said that, "I can continue to do my part in keeping the academic world an environment where great ideas and decency prevail. I also intend to direct funds to the Long Island Land Trust and other local charities I have long supported."

"Dr Watson's work contributed to cancer research, the illness from which my father died. It is important for me that the money that I spent on this medal will go to supporting scientific research, and the medal will stay with the person who deserved it," said Usmanov.

 

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