One of the most prestigious prizes in the world is the Nobel Prize, which is awarded for Physics, Chemistry, Physiology/Medicine, Economics, Literature and Peace.
The most prestigious prize in maths is the Fields Medal, which is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of maths.”
The rumor I heard as to why Alfred Nobel didn’t create a prize for maths was because Alfred’s wife was having an affair with a mathematician. Turns out this isn’t even close.
You can find out why there isn’t a Nobel Prize for maths, and how the Fields Medal has become referred to as the “Nobel Prize for maths” by reading this piece by the New York Times.