Ayn Rand

Date of Birth: February 2, 1905

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: March 6, 1982

Biography

Ayn Rand, born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum on February 2, 1905, in St. Petersburg, Russia, was a renowned writer and philosopher best known for her philosophy of Objectivism and her novels “Atlas Shrugged” and “The Fountainhead.” Rand’s early life in Russia was marked by the tumult of the Russian Revolution, which profoundly shaped her worldview. She emigrated to the United States in 1926, where she began her career in Hollywood as a screenwriter while working on her own literary projects. Rand’s first major success came with the publication of “The Fountainhead” in 1943, which introduced her individualistic philosophy and became a bestseller. Her magnum opus, “Atlas Shrugged,” published in 1957, further developed her philosophical ideas and solidified her place in American literary and philosophical circles. Objectivism, Rand’s philosophy, emphasizes rational self-interest, individualism, and laissez-faire capitalism. Throughout her career, Rand was a polarizing figure, attracting both fervent admirers and harsh critics. She lectured extensively, wrote numerous essays, and founded the Objectivist movement. Rand’s work has had a lasting impact on libertarian and conservative thought in the United States. Ayn Rand passed away on March 6, 1982, in New York City.

5 Interesting Facts about Ayn Rand

1. Ayn Rand was born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

2. She moved to the United States in 1926, initially working in Hollywood as a screenwriter.

3. Rand’s novel “The Fountainhead” was rejected by twelve publishers before becoming a bestseller.

4. Her philosophy, Objectivism, promotes rational self-interest and individualism.

5. Rand was an atheist and a staunch critic of collectivism and socialism.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ayn Rand

1. “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”

2. “The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.”

3. “You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.”

4. “I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.”

5. “We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her success, Ayn Rand’s estimated net worth was around $500,000, which would be significantly higher today when adjusted for inflation.