Robert Hawking, born May 19, 1967, is a British software engineer and the eldest son of the late Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the most celebrated theoretical physicists in history.
He works as a principal software engineer at Microsoft Corporation in Seattle, Washington.
His father’s death in 2018 prompted Robert to write a moving eulogy, published on Medium, that offered a rare personal glimpse into life with one of the world’s most famous scientists.
Who is Robert Hawking?
Robert George Hawking is a British software engineer best known as the eldest son of the late Stephen Hawking and his first wife, Jane Wilde Hawking.
While the Hawking name carries enormous scientific weight, Robert built his own career in the technology sector, working for Microsoft for more than two decades.
He grew up in a home shaped by his father’s genius and his mother’s academic career.
Robert was the only one among the three Hawking children who showed a strong early interest in science, though that interest eventually led him toward engineering rather than theoretical physics.
His father Stephen noted with pride that Robert had a keen interest in computers from a young age.
Robert lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and two children. He keeps a deliberately low public profile, preferring his work at Microsoft to the spotlight his family name attracts.
Stephen Hawking died on March 14, 2018, and Robert delivered the eulogy at his father’s funeral on March 31, 2018, at the University Church of St Mary the Great in Cambridge.
Early Life of Robert Hawking
Robert George Hawking was born on May 19, 1967, in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. He grew up as the eldest of three children born to Stephen Hawking and Jane Wilde Hawking.
His mother, Jane Wilde Hawking, graduated from Westfield College of the University of London with a degree in languages. She later earned her Ph.D. in 1981 in medieval Spanish poetry and went on to become an author and educator.
His father, Stephen Hawking, studied at the University of Oxford and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in applied mathematics and theoretical physics in 1966.
Growing up, Robert cared for his father, who had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1963. His mother later described how Robert took on responsibilities that children really should not have to bear.
Stephen supported Robert’s early interest in computing. He gave Robert a copy of a computer book, “Fortran Techniques with Special Reference to Non-Numerical Applications,” which Robert has kept in his home office bookcase to this day.
Robert Hawking Age
Robert Hawking is 59 years old as of 2026, born on May 19, 1967. His zodiac sign is Taurus. As of 2026, he continues his long-running career as a principal software engineer at Microsoft in Seattle.
Robert Hawking Ethnicity and Nationality
Robert Hawking holds British nationality and was born in Hertfordshire, England. His ethnic background is English, consistent with his parents’ backgrounds from Oxford and London respectively.
His father, Stephen Hawking, was born in Oxford, and his mother, Jane Wilde Hawking, studied in London.
Robert Hawking Education
Robert Hawking studied software engineering at the University of Oxford, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities.
His academic path connected him to the same institution his father had attended for his undergraduate degree decades earlier.
After Oxford, Robert went on to pursue a Master of Arts at the University of Cambridge, continuing a family connection to that institution as well. His father had spent decades at Cambridge as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.
Robert also completed a Master’s degree in Business Information Technology Systems from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, giving him a strong combined foundation in both technical computing and business applications.
Robert Hawking Career
Early Career
Robert Hawking began his professional career in the early 1990s. His first position was as a programmer at Colin Ross Malone, a firm in Glasgow, Scotland, where he worked from 1991 to 1994.
During his time at that firm, he built a spreadsheet program called “Schema 2,” demonstrating practical software development skills from the start of his career.
After that role, he worked in information technology for a period in Canada before eventually moving to the United States.
Robert joined Microsoft Corporation as a software engineer and settled in Seattle, Washington, where he has remained ever since.
Major Positions Held
At Microsoft, Robert built a long and steady career as a software engineer. His role evolved over the years to that of principal software engineer, a senior position within the company’s technical track.
He has worked at Microsoft for more than two decades, making it the defining chapter of his professional life.
His work fits squarely within his interest in practical computing and software development, a passion that his father supported and encouraged from the time Robert was a child.
Robert also took on a product engineering role at Microsoft alongside his core software responsibilities.
Current Role
Robert continues to work for Microsoft Corporation as of 2026. His home base remains Seattle, Washington, where he lives with his family.
Beyond his professional role, Robert and his wife host virtual wine tasting events in collaboration with the ALS Association to raise awareness and funds for ALS research. This charitable work reflects the family’s long connection to the disease that shaped their lives.
In 2014, Robert, his siblings Lucy and Timothy, and Robert’s son all participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which went viral globally and raised significant funds for ALS research.
Robert Hawking and The Theory of Everything
Robert’s public profile received a notable boost in 2014, when his mother Jane’s memoir “Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen” was adapted into the biographical drama film The Theory of Everything.
The film starred Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as Jane Hawking.
The film portrayed the Hawking family’s story, including Robert’s childhood experiences. Actor Tom Prior played Robert in the film.
The movie was a significant commercial and critical success, earning more than $35.8 million at the box office and winning four Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Eddie Redmayne.
Robert’s representation in that film introduced him to a wider audience beyond those who already knew the Hawking family’s story.
Robert Hawking Parents
Stephen Hawking and Jane Wilde Hawking first met in 1962. Stephen received his ALS diagnosis in 1963, and the couple married in July 1965.
After 25 years of marriage, they separated in 1990 and finalized their divorce in 1995. Stephen married his nurse Elaine Mason in September 1995. Robert and his siblings did not attend that wedding ceremony. Stephen and Elaine divorced in 2006.
Jane Hawking remarried in 1996, wedding musician Jonathan Jones. Stephen Hawking passed away on March 14, 2018, in Cambridge, at the age of 76. Robert, Lucy, and Timothy were all present to mourn their father.
Stephen Hawking received many honors during his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. He also served as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge from 1979 to 2009.
Robert Hawking Wife
Robert Hawking is married to Katarina Hawking. The couple keeps their personal life deliberately private and have not publicly shared details about their wedding date or ceremony.
Katarina is actively involved in ALS awareness efforts. She participates with Robert in virtual wine tasting fundraisers organized with the ALS Association, reflecting her deep personal connection to the cause that touched the Hawking family.
Robert and Katarina appear to share a similar commitment to keeping their family life out of public view.
Robert Hawking Children
Robert and Katarina Hawking have two children together, a son and a daughter. The names and ages of their children have not been made public, as the family maintains a strong preference for privacy.
Their son participated in the 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge alongside Robert, his uncle Timothy, and his aunt Lucy. That moment offered one of the few public glimpses of the next generation of the Hawking family.
Robert and his family live in Seattle, Washington, where Robert has been based throughout his career at Microsoft.
Robert Hawking Net Worth
Robert Hawking’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income comes primarily from his long-running career as a principal software engineer at Microsoft, where annual salaries at his seniority level are reported to exceed $150,000.
Following Stephen Hawking’s death in 2018, Robert and his siblings inherited alongside their mother a combined estate reported to be worth approximately $60 million. That inheritance added substantially to his personal wealth.
His net worth reflects both his own professional earnings over more than thirty years in software engineering and the inheritance he received from his father’s estate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Robert Hawking’s role / position?
Robert Hawking works as a principal software engineer at Microsoft Corporation in Seattle, Washington. He has held this and related software engineering roles at Microsoft for more than two decades.
How old is Robert Hawking?
Robert Hawking is 59 years old as of June 16, 2026. He was born on May 19, 1967, in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
What is Robert Hawking’s net worth?
Robert Hawking’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026, earned through his career at Microsoft and supplemented by inheritance from his father’s estate.
Where did Robert Hawking study?
Robert Hawking studied at the University of Oxford (software engineering), then at the University of Cambridge (M.A.), and also completed an M.B.I.T.S. at the University of Strathclyde.
Who is Robert Hawking married to?
Robert Hawking is married to Katarina Hawking. The couple has two children and lives in Seattle, Washington. They keep the details of their family life private.
What awards has Robert Hawking won?
Robert Hawking has not received public awards. His father, Stephen Hawking, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, among many other honors.
The Bottom Line
Robert Hawking delivered the eulogy at his father’s funeral on March 31, 2018, at the University Church of St Mary the Great in Cambridge, offering a rare and personal public statement about his life with Stephen.
He also participated in the 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge alongside his siblings and his own son to raise awareness for the disease.
He studied at Oxford and Cambridge before building a long career as a principal software engineer at Microsoft, where he has worked for more than two decades.
His private life in Seattle reflects a deliberate choice to live outside the enormous public shadow cast by his father’s legacy.
Robert and his wife Katarina host virtual wine tasting fundraisers with the ALS Association, keeping the family’s charitable connection to ALS research active.
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