Robert Hawking is the eldest son of the late British physicist Stephen Hawking and writer Jane Hawking. He was born on May 19, 1967, and reportedly studied at the University of Oxford before building a career in software engineering. Unlike his famous father, Robert has kept most of his professional and family life private.
Robert Hawking’s Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Hawking |
| Date of birth | May 19, 1967 |
| Age | 59 years old as of 2026 |
| Reported birthplace | Hertfordshire, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Software engineer |
| Known for | Being Stephen Hawking’s eldest son |
| Father | Stephen William Hawking |
| Mother | Jane Beryl Wilde Hawking |
| Siblings | Lucy Hawking and Timothy Hawking |
| Education | Reportedly University of Oxford |
| Employer | Reportedly worked for Microsoft |
| Marital status | Reportedly married |
| Reported wife | Katarina |
| Children | Reportedly one son and one daughter |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Robert Hawking’s Age and Early Life
Robert Hawking was born on May 19, 1967. His birthplace has been reported as Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.
He is 59 years old as of 2026.
Robert is the first child of Stephen Hawking and Jane Hawking. He grew up with two younger siblings, Lucy and Timothy.
His childhood was strongly affected by his father’s health. Stephen had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS, before Robert was born.
As Stephen’s physical abilities became more limited, Robert reportedly helped care for his father.
Robert Was Interested in Science as a Child
Robert developed an interest in science while growing up.
Older biographical reports describe him as the Hawking child who showed the strongest early interest in becoming a scientist.
His father’s work may have influenced this interest, but Robert eventually chose a different professional field.
Instead of becoming a theoretical physicist, he moved into computer technology and software engineering.
Robert Hawking’s Education
Robert reportedly attended the University of Oxford.
Some secondary sources say he studied software engineering there. However, the exact name of his degree has not been reliably confirmed in the available information.
After completing his education, Robert entered the technology industry.
Robert Hawking’s Career
Robert Hawking is widely described as a software engineer.
He reportedly built his career at Microsoft, one of the world’s largest technology companies.
A 2020 biography stated that Robert was still working for Microsoft at that time. It also reported that he was living in Seattle, Washington.
More recent reliable information about his exact position at Microsoft is limited. It is therefore safer to say that he has worked for Microsoft rather than assume he still holds the same job in 2026.
There are no widely documented awards, patents, executive roles, or major software products connected to Robert in the information available.
Who Was Robert Hawking’s Father, Stephen Hawking?
Stephen William Hawking was a British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, professor, and author.
He was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England.
Stephen became internationally known for his research into black holes, cosmology, gravity, and the universe.
He served as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge from 1979 to 2009.
He was also connected to the university’s Centre for Theoretical Cosmology.
In 2009, Stephen received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
His life and relationship with Jane were portrayed in the 2014 biographical film The Theory of Everything.
Stephen died in March 2018.
Stephen Hawking’s ALS Diagnosis
Stephen was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when he was 21 years old.
ALS is a progressive neurological disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.
Stephen gradually lost much of his physical movement. He eventually used a wheelchair and relied on assistive technology to communicate.
Despite his condition, he continued his scientific work for decades.
Robert grew up while his father’s disability was progressing and reportedly helped with his care.
Who Is Robert Hawking’s Mother, Jane Hawking?
Robert’s mother is Jane Beryl Wilde Hawking.
Jane is a British author and educator. She met Stephen Hawking while they were young and remained with him through many years of his illness and academic career.
Stephen and Jane met in the early 1960s and married in 1965.
They had three children together: Robert, Lucy, and Timothy.
Their marriage later ended.
Jane also wrote about her life with Stephen. Her memoir became part of the source material behind The Theory of Everything.
Robert Hawking’s Siblings
Robert is the oldest of Stephen and Jane Hawking’s three children.
His younger siblings are:
- Lucy Hawking
- Timothy Hawking
Each of the three children followed a different path in adult life.
Who Is Lucy Hawking?
Lucy Hawking is Robert’s younger sister.
She was born on November 2, 1969, according to the available biographical information.
Lucy became an author and journalist.
She also worked with her father on science books written for younger readers. Their books used stories to introduce children to scientific ideas.
This gave Lucy a more public connection to Stephen’s scientific work than Robert, who chose a private career in technology.
Who Is Timothy Hawking?
Timothy Hawking is Robert’s younger brother and the youngest of Stephen and Jane’s children.
The supplied source reports that Timothy was born on April 15, 1979.
Timothy has generally maintained a private life, and the available source provides limited information about his career and personal activities.
Robert Hawking’s Relationship With His Father
Robert reportedly helped his father as Stephen’s physical condition became more difficult.
Growing up with a parent who had ALS meant that Robert and other family members experienced the practical effects of Stephen’s disability at home.
Robert has not built a public career around his father’s fame. He instead pursued his own work in technology while maintaining a relatively private personal life.
Is Robert Hawking Married?
Robert Hawking is reported to be married.
Some secondary biography sources identify his wife as Katarina.
However, little reliable public information is available about her. Her full name, career, age, education, and background are not clearly documented in the information available.
Robert and his wife have kept their marriage away from regular media attention.
Robert Hawking’s Children
Robert and his wife are reportedly parents to two children, a son and a daughter.
Their names and dates of birth have not been reliably made public in the available information.
Robert has kept his children outside the spotlight associated with the Hawking family.
Where Does Robert Hawking Live?
Older reports placed Robert in Seattle, Washington, United States.
His reported move to the Seattle area was connected to his career at Microsoft.
However, this information comes from older secondary reporting. His current residence in 2026 has not been reliably confirmed.
Robert Hawking’s Net Worth
Robert Hawking’s personal net worth is not publicly confirmed.
Some online biography sources have estimated his wealth at around $5 million, largely based on his reported technology career.
There are no reliable public financial records supporting that exact amount.
Some sources have also claimed that Robert and other members of the Hawking family received a very large inheritance after Stephen’s death. The figures reported online are inconsistent and should not be treated as confirmed.
Robert Hawking’s Social Media
Robert does not appear to maintain a widely verified public social-media presence.
Some older biography websites have attributed photographs to accounts carrying his name. However, that does not confirm that those accounts actually belong to Stephen Hawking’s son.
There is no clearly established public Instagram, X, Facebook, or other social-media profile for Robert in the information available.
Robert Hawking’s Public Life
Robert has remained much less publicly visible than his father.
He is not known as a television personality, author, physicist, or public speaker.
Most information about him comes from reporting about the Hawking family and his reported career in software engineering.
Reliable recent information about his daily life and professional activities remains limited.
Why Is Robert Hawking Known?
Robert is mainly known as Stephen Hawking’s eldest son.
His connection to one of the world’s best-known physicists has created public interest in his life.
However, Robert chose a different career from his father. He reportedly entered software engineering and worked for Microsoft rather than pursuing theoretical physics.
Facts About Robert Hawking
- Robert Hawking was born on May 19, 1967.
- He is the eldest child of Stephen and Jane Hawking.
- His birthplace is reported as Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
- He is British.
- His younger siblings are Lucy and Timothy Hawking.
- Robert developed an interest in science when he was young.
- He reportedly attended the University of Oxford.
- He chose software engineering rather than theoretical physics.
- Robert has reportedly worked for Microsoft.
- Older reports placed him in Seattle, Washington.
- He reportedly helped care for his father as Stephen’s disability progressed.
- Robert is reported to be married to a woman named Katarina.
- He reportedly has a son and a daughter.
- His children’s names have not been reliably made public.
- His personal net worth is not publicly confirmed.
- The commonly reported $5 million figure is an unverified estimate.
- He does not have a widely verified public social-media account.
- Reliable information about his current work and residence remains limited.
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