For many, many years, governments awarded some of the most brilliant minds with cash for exploring and improving the world. And in modern times, philanthropists have opened their pockets to entrepreneurs who could solve some of the world’s problems.
Sometimes, these prizes are all that’s needed to change the world — and sometimes the inventors and daredevils are catapulted into fame and fortune. At other times, they are only slightly rewarded and die in debt.
These are 12 inventions, discoveries and remarkable feats that helped change the world, and the rewards bestowed upon the inventors, explorers and daredevils.