by sweetcherry on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 | Knowledge, World

ALBERT EINSTEIN
Einstein declined the presidency of the state of Israel when it was offered to him in 1952 by state leaders. The element einsteinium, discovered in 1952, was named in honor of Albert Einstein. When Albert Einstein died, his final words died with him. The nurse at his side didn’t understand German.

FIVE RICHEST PEOPLE TODAY

We actually had to modify this fact due to recent changes in the billionaire world. Thirteen years our buddy Bill Gates from Winblows was the richest man in the world. However, as of 2008 the top five richest people are: 1. Warren Buffett (Stocks and investments), 2.Carlos Slim Helu (Mexican telecom mogul), 3. William Gates III (Windows and more), 4. Lakshmi Mittal (World’s largest steelmaker - India), 5. Mukesh Ambani (Petrochemicals giant Reliance Industries - India). We will try to update this list as soon as rich get richer.

PABLO PICASSO
His full name was “Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso”. While living in Paris (1900) Pablo had lots of financial problems and he burned many of his paintings to stay warm. Besides his wife he had many mistresses. Pablo loved to work with the candle light. His first exhibit was at the age of thirteen. Interesting fact is that Steve Wynn owner of the Picasso’s famed “Dream” painting poke the hole accidentally through the multimillion dollar painting while showing his friends portrait of Picasso’s mistress Marie-Therese Walter.

ALFRED NOBEL
The Nobel Prize resulted form a late change in the will of Alfred Nobel, who did not want to be remembered after his death as a propagator of violence - he invented dynamite.

MOZART
Mozart never went to school.

MARILYN MONROE
There was a person that paid $14,000 for the bra Marilyn Monroe wore in Some Like It Hot.

VINCENT VAN GOGH
Vincent was an unstable and volatile man and well known as the tortured artist who cut off part of his own ear. The events leading up to this tragic accident were related to his friendship with Paul Gauguin. Vincent persuaded Gaugin to leave Brittany and join him in Arles. At first their relationship was amicable but after about two months the artists started to argue. On one fated occasion van Gogh, in a terrible rage threatened Gaugin with a razor. Van Gogh calmed down later in the day and was filled with horror and remorse for the possible consequences of such an argument. As a result of this, and his instability, the tortured artist cut off part of his own ear. He voluntarily entered the asylum of Saint-Remy suffering with depression. Vincent Van Gogh sadly committed suicide at the age of 37 years old.

BARACK OBAMA
He won a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Spoken Word Recording. It was for the audio version of his book Dreams From My Father.
He and his wife bought a house in Chicago in 2005. Back then it cost $1.65 million. The house has 4 fireplaces.
He experimented with drugs. Back in his early years he tried marijuana and cocaine. According to his own words he is not proud of it and considers it a mistake as a young man.

Obama had written in his first book, “Dreams From My Father” (1995), before entering politics, that he had used marijuana and cocaine (”maybe a little blow”). He said he had not tried heroin because he did not like the pusher who was trying to sell it to him.

(Source)

MICHAEL JORDAN
Why did Jordan choose the number 23 for his jersey? It was half of 45, his first choice. His number was already taken (45) when he made the high school basketball team, so he halved the number and kept it all through High School and College. Jersey number Jordan took upon his return from baseball. … from cgi1.sportsline com … ‘My favorite number had always been No. 45 - which was my older brother Larry’s number. When I got to high school, I couldn’t have No. 45 because Larry had it - so I decided to have half of his number … 22 and a half, which rounded to No. 23. That’s the real story of how I came to wear No. 23.’

Tags: albert einstein, alfred nobel, five richest people, interesting facts, interesting facts about famous people, michael jordan, mozart, nobel prize, pablo picasso, people facts, Warren Buffett, who invented dynamite