Nobelpreis

Since Nobel remained childless, he prompted that a foundation should be founded with his assets of around 31.2 million crowns. A year before his death, he set his will in the presence of some friends, but without a lawyer, on November 27, 1895. He gave the foundation most of his assets, about 94 % of total assets.

Nobel determined that interest rates from the fund should be distributed annually as a prize to those "who performed the greatest benefits last year", and in equal parts to award winners in five areas: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace ("one of the most or best to fraternize or the abolition or reduction the preventive or promotion of peace congresses “). Nobel emphasized that nationality should not play a role, rather the most worthy of the price should receive.