[Steuard]

I've always had the impression that the cash is the least important part of a Nobel prize. Even if you're being purely mercenary about it, Nobel laureates can probably get paid speaking engagements whenever they want. But it's the prestige that really matters, and I suspect that for most scientists a share of the cash would be a poor substitute.

[ISL]

As a physicist: There are lots of good reasons to go into physics. Doing it for the money probably isn't one of them.