Who Is Sidney Gottlieb? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on August 3, 1918, Sidney Gottlieb would be 106 years old in 2025. Renowned for his significant yet controversial role in the CIA's MKUltra program during the Cold War, Gottlieb's legacy continues to spark discussions surrounding ethics in science and intelligence. He played a pivotal role in developing experimental drugs and psychological tactics utilized in covert operations. His life, shrouded in mystery, has fascinated historians and the public alike.
| Occupation | Scientists |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 3, 1918 |
| Age | 80 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 7 March, 1999 |
| Died Place | Washington, Virginia, U.S. |
Popularity
Sidney Gottlieb's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific physical measurements for Sidney Gottlieb are not widely documented due to the nature of his work and public persona, he was known to have an average build for his time. Due to his age in 2025, information regarding his height and weight may not be readily available or may have changed significantly over the years.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As a private individual, Sidney Gottlieb kept much of his personal life away from the public eye. He was married to a woman named Ruth, and it is reported that they had children together. The details regarding his family life remain sparse, emphasizing his preference for discretion in his relationships. There are no recent updates regarding his dating status due to his advanced age.
Gottlieb met his wife, Margaret Moore, the daughter of a Presbyterian missionary, while attending CIT. Denied the chance of military service, he sought out another way to serve, and began looking for government work in Washington.
By 1948, his wife and two daughters were living in a cabin near Vienna, Virginia, that had no electricity or running water. He was living there when he began working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). His lifestyle was in contrast to that of the Ivy League men the CIA normally recruited.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Sidney Gottlieb's net worth is not publicly disclosed, largely due to the secretive nature of his work within the CIA and the lack of focus on personal financial affairs in public records. Nevertheless, his career in intelligence and research likely contributed positively to his financial status during his lifetime.
Career, Business and Investments
Sidney Gottlieb's career is best known for its association with the CIA. He served as the head of the Technical Services Division, where he spearheaded a range of sensitive projects, including the controversial MKUltra program, which aimed to explore mind control through the application of drugs and psychological manipulation. His innovations in chemical research significantly impacted intelligence-gathering tactics during his tenure.
After retiring from the CIA, Gottlieb was noted for his philanthropic efforts, contributing to various causes related to science and education. However, investments in businesses or personal ventures are hardly documented due to his focus on classified projects.
Gottlieb's first government position was at the United States Department of Agriculture, where he researched the chemical structure of organic soils. He later transferred to the Food and Drug Administration, where he developed tests to measure the presence of drugs in the human body.
Gottlieb grew bored with this work and sought a more challenging position.
In 1948, he found a job at the National Research Council, where he described being "exposed to some interesting work concerning ergot alkaloids as vasoconstrictors and hallucinogens." He soon relocated to the University of Maryland as a research associate dedicated to studying metabolisms of fungi.
Social Network
Sidney Gottlieb maintained a low profile in terms of social media presence, especially considering the era in which he primarily operated. There are limited resources on his interactions or affiliations with prominent social networks. Most of the available content regarding him stems from historical accounts and documents rather than contemporary social media platforms.
Project BLUEBIRD was already underway when Gottlieb was brought on board; BLUEBIRD experimented with "Special Interrogation" techniques on captured prisoners at black sites like Camp King and Villa Schuster, using drugs to attempt to break ego control and elicit information.
BLUEBIRD lacked scientific knowledge and discipline; Dulles wanted Gottlieb to get it back on course. After proceeding through training, he was named chief of the newly formed Chemical Division of the Technical Services Staff (TSS).
On August 20, 1951, Dulles ordered BLUEBIRD to be expanded and centralized, and renamed the Project Artichoke, which became a power base for Gottlieb. Dulles was promoted to Deputy Director of Central Intelligence shortly after expanding Artichoke's scale.
Education
Gottlieb's educational background is rooted in a strong foundation in the sciences. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by a Ph.D. in biochemistry. His academic achievements equipped him with the skills necessary for the complex tasks he undertook while serving the CIA.
His older brother was plant biologist David Gottlieb. A stutterer since childhood, he earned a master's degree in speech therapy from San Jose State University after retiring from the CIA.
