Rube Goldberg

Date of Birth: July 4, 1883

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: December 7, 1970

Biography

Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg, commonly known as Rube Goldberg, was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor. Born on July 4, 1883, in San Francisco, California, Goldberg’s career spanned several decades and he is best known for his popular cartoons depicting complicated gadgets performing simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways. Goldberg graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1904 with an engineering degree but soon shifted his focus to his true passion, drawing. He started his career as a sports cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle and later moved to New York, where his work was syndicated in numerous newspapers. Goldberg’s name became synonymous with overly complex machines designed to perform straightforward tasks, a concept that has permeated popular culture to this day. He passed away on December 7, 1970, in New York City.

5 Interesting Facts about Rube Goldberg

1. Rube Goldberg won the Pulitzer Prize for political cartooning in 1948.

2. He was one of the founding members of the National Cartoonists Society and served as its first president.

3. Goldberg’s famous inventions include the “Self-Operating Napkin,” one of his many whimsical contraptions.

4. He worked as a writer and storyboard artist for several Hollywood films in the 1930s.

5. The term “Rube Goldberg” is officially recognized in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Rube Goldberg

1. “I’m a writer, and I will write what I want to write.”

2. “The machines are a symbol of man’s capacity for exerting maximum effort to achieve minimal results.”

3. “The only difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys.”

4. “If you make a product good enough, even though you live in the depths of the forest, the public will make a path to your door.”

5. “Humor is not a trick, not jokes. Humor is a presence in the world—like grace—and shines on everybody.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Rube Goldberg’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, but his influence and syndication deals indicate that he was a well-compensated and highly successful cartoonist during his peak.