1. Nobel PrizeEstablished by Swedish chemist, inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), this is the most coveted distinction in the world. It was in Nobel's will that the inventor of dynamite (besides the other 334 patents that he registered) announced that his vast fortune would be bequethed to a foundation that every year would give a generous prize in for "those who have provided the greatest services to humanity" in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economy.
2. Academy Awards
Best known as the Oscars, this is the Holy Grail for the cinema industry, given each year by the American Film Academy for the best movie, best actor, best soundtrack, best screenplay and the list goes on and on. It was legendary Walt Disney that won this prize no less than 20 times, a record that most probably will never be defeated.
3. Booker Prize
Or the Man Booker Prize, it honours once a year the very best contemporary English work published by an author from the British Commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland. One of the most prestigious and desired of all literary prizes (except of course for the Nobel), it lists among it's recipients famous writers such as William Golding, Iris Murdoch, Salman Rushdie, J.M. Coetzee, Kazuo Ishiguro, Julian Barnes and others.
4. Golden Globe Awards
Honouring the best in film and television and bestowed by the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, starting with 1944, it offers a wide range of prizes for various categories, such as the Best Motion Picture for Drama or Comedy, Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Original Score, Best Soundtrack, Best Drama Series (for television), Best Supporting Actor and many others.
5. Pulitzer Prize
Awarded for achievements in journalism (both tradition newspapers and online), literature and musical composition in the USA (all in all there are 21 categories) this prestigious award bears the name of Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911) who made his fortune as a newspaper publisher and would later be a congressman.
Photo: nobelprize.org
