| Who is it? | Biochemist |
| Birth Day | January 28, 1922 |
| Birth Place | Urbana, Illinois, United States |
| Age | 98 YEARS OLD |
| Died On | February 11, 1993(1993-02-11) (aged 71)\nLos Gatos, California |
| Birth Sign | Aquarius |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Cornell University |
| Known for | Transfer RNA |
| Awards | Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (1965) NAS Award in Molecular Biology (1967) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1968) |
| Fields | Biochemistry |
| Institutions | Salk Institute for Biological Studies |
Robert W. Holley, a prominent biochemist based in the United States, is estimated to have a net worth ranging from $100,000 to $1 million in 2024. With a notable career in the field of biochemistry, Holley has made significant contributions to the scientific community. He is renowned for his groundbreaking research on RNA structure and deciphering the genetic code. Holley's work has earned him recognition and accolades, establishing him as a highly regarded figure in the field. As a result of his successful career, his net worth reflects his achievements and contributions in the scientific realm.
Holley was born in Urbana, Illinois, and graduated from Urbana High School in 1938. He went on to study chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating in 1942 and commencing his PhD studies in organic chemistry at Cornell University. During World War II Holley spent two years working under Professor Vincent du Vigneaud at Cornell University Medical College, where he was involved in the first chemical synthesis of penicillin. Holley completed his PhD studies in 1947.
Following his graduate studies Holley remained associated with Cornell. He became an Assistant Professor of organic chemistry in 1948, and was appointed as Professor of Biochemistry in 1962. He began his research on RNA after spending a year's sabbatical (1955–1956) studying with James F. Bonner at the California Institute of Technology.
The structure was completed in 1964, and was a key discovery in explaining the synthesis of proteins from messenger RNA. It was also the first nucleotide sequence of a ribonucleic acid ever determined. Holley was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for this discovery, and Har Gobind Khorana and Marshall W. Nirenberg were also awarded the prize that year for contributions to the understanding of protein synthesis.
In 1968 Holley became a resident fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California.
