The MacArthur Foundation is a philanthropic foundation that yearly gives a portion of its $7 billion endowment to twenty to forty people who "show exceptional merit and promise for continued and enhanced creative work."

In case you wanted some of that sweet "no-strings attached" $500k, which each of the MacArthur Fellows receive, you better brush up on your astrophysics, neuroscience, and jazz sax.

Or, if you are anything like one of this year's winners, just be a really good music critic:

CONTINUED »