Ayn Rand, born Alice Zinovievna Rosenbaum, was born on January 20 (February 2) 1905 in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire, and died on March 6, 1982 in New York, USA. She was an American writer and philosopher, known for her bestsellers "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged." In addition, Rand worked as a playwright and screenwriter, and created a philosophical system she called Objectivism.

After graduating from Petrograd University with a degree in social pedagogy, Rand moved to the USA on a student visa in 1925 and decided not to return. In 1932, Universal Pictures acquired her screenplay "Red Pawn" for adaptation, which brought her recognition in professional circles. In 1935 and 1936, she staged plays on Broadway. Her first two novels were unsuccessful, but with the release of "The Fountainhead" in 1943, she gained widespread fame. Her most famous novel, "Atlas Shrugged," was published in 1957. Later, Rand focused on scholarly literature to promote her philosophy, began publishing periodicals, and wrote several collections of essays.

Rand considered reason to be the only source of knowledge and rejected faith and religion. She advocated rational and ethical egoism, denying altruism. Rand was critical of most philosophers and philosophical traditions, except for Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and classical liberals.

Critics gave mixed reviews of her works, and academic circles often ignored or rejected her philosophy. Nevertheless, the Objectivist movement continues to spread her ideas among the general public and in academia. Rand had a significant influence on libertarians and American conservatives.

Rand died of heart failure and was buried at Kensico Cemetery in New York. Her famous followers attended her funeral, although Nathaniel Branden was banned from participating in the ceremony. Her estate was inherited by Leonard Peikoff, as she bequeathed. At the funeral, a large floral arrangement in the shape of a dollar sign was placed next to the coffin.