Perhaps his biggest legacy was the Dan David Foundation, which every year honoured three individuals or groups, Jewish or non-Jewish, for their scientific, technological, cultural or social impact on the world. One of this year's prizes, worth $1 million, was awarded to the filmmaker brothers Joel and Ethan Coen .
Other recipients have included former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood and the former US vice-president Al Gore.
The prize has been handed out by Tel Aviv University since its creation in 2002.
Joseph Klafter, the university's president, described Mr David as a "renaissance man".
