Eugene Cernan Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Eugene Andrew Cernan — a name that resonates through history not just as a pioneering astronaut, but as the last human to walk on the Moon. Born on March 14, 1934 — his birthday — in Chicago, Illinois, Cernan’s life story weaves together ambition, technical mastery, courage under pressure, and a legacy that still inspires.

From Midwestern Roots to the Edge of Space

Eugene Cernan grew up in suburban Illinois, the son of Rose and Andrew Cernan, and displayed early promise academically and athletically. He graduated high school in 1952, then enrolled at Purdue University under the Navy ROTC program, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1956.After commissioning into the U.S. Navy, he pursued flight training — the beginning of a career that would eventually carry him beyond Earth’s skies.

He later acquired a Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California — credentials that laid the foundation for his selection by NASA in October 1963, as part of Astronaut Group 3.

Forging Ahead: From Naval Aviator to Moon Commander

Before his voyages to space, Cernan logged thousands of hours flying jets, including more than 200 aircraft-carrier landings — a testament to his discipline and piloting skill.

In June 1966, Cernan flew aboard Gemini 9A as pilot, where he made history as the second American to perform a spacewalk — spending over two hours outside the spacecraft. 

Three years later, during Apollo 10 in May 1969, he served as lunar module pilot. The mission simulated a lunar landing — bringing the module within just 15 km of the lunar surface before returning to orbit. It was a pivotal rehearsal, laying crucial groundwork for the first moon landing that would follow soon after.

Finally, in December 1972, Cernan commanded Apollo 17 — the last mission of the Apollo program. Over three days, he and his fellow astronaut explored the Moon’s Taurus-Littrow valley, collecting lunar samples and leaving their footprints in the silent lunar dust. As commander, Cernan became the last human to leave the Moon’s surface — a poetic and indelible capstone to an extraordinary journey. 

Beyond the Moon: Life After NASA

After returning from his final mission, Cernan retired from both the U.S. Navy and NASA in 1976. Leveraging his experience and insight into aerospace, he pivoted into the private sector, founding the Cernan Corporation — a consulting firm focused on aviation and space affairs.

In 1999 he published his memoir, The Last Man on the Moon, co-written with journalist Don Davis, offering fans and space enthusiasts a deeply personal retelling of his experiences and reflections from years spent among the stars and beyond Earth’s cradle.

Family, Bonds, and Personal Life

Cernan’s personal life was marked by devotion, change, and enduring relationships. In 1961 he married Barbara Jean Atchley, a flight attendant — the couple welcomed a daughter, Tracy Cernan, in 1963. That marriage ended in divorce in 1981, though sources suggest they remained on friendly terms. 

In 1987, Cernan remarried — this time to Janis Ellen 'Nanna' Cernan. The union brought two step-daughters into his life, and lasted until his death. By the time of his passing, he also left behind grandchildren, signifying a quietly fulfilled life off the global stage.

Net Worth & Legacy: Value Beyond the Dollar Sign

Estimating the fortune of someone like Eugene Cernan is notoriously difficult, but some sources suggest that at the time of his death his net worth was roughly US $5 million. This figure presumably arises from a combination of retirement benefits, private-sector consulting from his Cernan Corporation, book royalties from The Last Man on the Moon, and occasional speaking engagements.

Yet to evaluate Cernan solely by financial metrics would be to miss the point. His true wealth lies in legacy: as the last human to walk on the Moon, as a pioneer of spaceflight, and as a symbol of what human ambition and courage can achieve. Institutions such as the Cernan Earth and Space Center at Triton College in Illinois bear his name — a testament to his enduring impact. 

The Final Chapter and the Moon’s Last Footprints

Eugene Cernan passed away on January 16, 2017, in Houston, Texas. His life spanned decades of discovery, risk, triumph — and ultimately, inspiration for generations to come.

In every school named after him, every tribute, every space-enthusiast gazing at the heavens, Cernan’s journey lives on. His footprints remain in the lunar dust, his name etched in the annals of space exploration, and his story a reminder: once we dream boldly enough, we can reach places we once thought unreachable.