Origins & Early Life

Eugene Francis "Gene" Fama (; born February 14, 1939) is an American economist and Nobel Laureate. He is best known for his empirical work on portfolio theory, asset pricing, and the efficient-market hypothesis. He is Robert R. McCormick Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 2013, he shared the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences jointly with Robert J. Shiller and Lars Peter Hansen. The Research Papers in Economics project ranked him as the 9th-most influential economist of all time based on his academic contributions as of 2019. He is regarded as "the father of modern finance", as his works built the foundation of financial economics. Fama was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Angelina (née Sarraceno) and Francis Fama.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

All of his grandparents were immigrants from Italy. Fama is a Malden Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame honoree. He earned his undergraduate degree in Romance Languages magna cum laude in 1960 from Tufts University, where he was also selected as the school's outstanding student–athlete. Fama's MBA and PhD came from the University...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alphonse Mucha — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Master of Art Nouveau, famed for decorative posters and The Slav Epic.
• Amelia Earhart — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Iconic American aviator whose pioneering flights shaped early 20th-century aviation.
• Barry Mann — Contemporary (Born in 1939) (1939): American songwriter and musician known for successful collaborations, especially with Cynthia Weil.
• Abdul Qadir Gilani — Shared historical date (02-14 · Died) (1166): Founding figure of the Qadiriyya Sufi order, renowned mystic and jurist.
• Alan Parker — Shared historical date (02-14 · Born) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Bobby Hull — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Iconic 'Golden Jet' of hockey, celebrated for speed and scoring prowess.
• Bobby Jones (singer) — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering gospel singer and television host from Nashville, Tennessee.
• Bernadette Lafont — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Iconic French actress, celebrated for her role in the New Wave movement.
• Bobby Bland — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering blues and soul artist known for tempestuous arias of love and betrayal.
• Agnès Varda — Historical peer (Died in 2019) (2019): Pioneering French filmmaker, artist, and documentarian celebrated for her unique vision.
• 1939 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1939
• February 14 (02-14) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 14