Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment at age 35, according to the traditional Buddhist account.
Born as a prince of the Shakya clan, Siddhartha left his protected palace life after confronting old age, sickness, death, and religious striving. He practiced with teachers and then undertook severe asceticism for about six years before rejecting self-mortification as an ineffective extreme.
After accepting nourishment from Sujata, he meditated beneath a pipal tree at Uruvela, near present-day Bodh Gaya. During the night, he is traditionally said to have gained profound insight into suffering, its causes, its cessation, and the path to liberation. The tree became known as the Bodhi Tree, and Siddhartha became the Buddha, meaning “Awakened One.”
A common mix-up is confusing his age at enlightenment with other traditional ages: he is often said to have left home at 29 and to have died at 80. Buddhist traditions also differ over chronology and dates, but 35 is the standard quiz answer for his age at awakening.