Albert Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, but it was not specifically for his theory of relativity. The Nobel Committee chose to recognize his work on the photoelectric effect, which laid the foundation for the development of quantum mechanics. The theory of relativity, while revolutionary and influential, did not receive immediate recognition from the Nobel Committee.
If Einstein had not received the Nobel Prize for his work on the photoelectric effect, it is difficult to predict with certainty what would have happened. However, it is worth noting that the Nobel Prize is not the sole indicator of an individual's contributions or the significance of their work. Einstein's ideas on relativity were already gaining recognition and attracting attention from the scientific community during his lifetime, independent of the Nobel Prize.
There is a possibility that Einstein might have been awarded the Nobel Prize for his theory of relativity at a later stage if the Nobel Committee had chosen to recognize its profound impact. However, it is also important to consider that the theory of relativity was highly complex and took some time for its full implications to be understood and appreciated by the scientific community. The Nobel Committee's choices are subjective, and it is impossible to determine how they would have evaluated Einstein's work had it been considered in a different context.
Ultimately, while the Nobel Prize is prestigious, its absence does not diminish the significance and impact of Einstein's contributions to physics and our understanding of the universe. His ideas and theories have had a lasting influence, and his name remains synonymous with genius and groundbreaking scientific thought.