About Mr. Dan David

Mr. Dan David
Founder of the Dan David Prize

In 1961, Dan David had a dream. He dreamed of using his studies and work experience in industrial photography to design a new instant photography technology. Money posed a problem. A businessman abroad who believed in his idea came to the rescue with a $200,000 loan with an unlimited pay-back date. This enabled Dan David to fulfil his dream and the loan was not only paid back, but his financial backer was presented with stocks in the new company that Dan created.

This defining experience has been for Dan David the underlying motivation in establishing the Dan David Foundation and the Dan David Prize. His aim is to reward those who have made a lasting impact on society and help young students and entrepreneurs become the scholars and leaders of the future.

Dan David's philosophy is expressed in the statement he made: "Money is a measure of success like Celsius degrees for temperature; it is not a purpose in itself. Success can be a source of satisfaction but money should be put to work for good causes after personal needs have been met. It is the reason why I chose to create the Prize, to devote some of my fortune to rewarding and furthering the work of the eminent figures who have increased our knowledge of our past, improved our present and helped us forge a better future".

Dan David's honors include ‘Commander of the Italian Republic in the Order of Merit', ‘Commander of the French Republic in the Order of Arts and Letters' and from the Israeli Government, ‘Itur Lochamei Hamedina'. Dan David holds the title of Doctor Philosophiae Honoris Causa from Tel Aviv University. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Tel Aviv University and is an Elected Member of the World Academy of Art and Science.

Dan David is married to Gabriela Fleischman David and is the father of Ariel David, a talented young journalist. He is President of Fomat Ltd., Dedem Automatica Srl, and Photo-Me International Plc, as well as a member of the boards of other Israeli and foreign companies, including the investment fund GLG London. He is engaged in myriad philanthropic projects in fields as varied as archaeology, film, medicine, various scholarships, and a non-profit business incubator. Dan David divides his time between Israel, England, and Italy. He is fluent in French, Italian, English, Romanian, Spanish, Hebrew and German.

Dan David has numerous hobbies, among which are literature, history, chess, cycling and travelling.

Read about Dan David:

THE TIMES, April 12, 2003
"The main thing I learnt was to believe in myself"