Richard Wagner · Karl Marx Were Richard Wagner and Karl Marx alive at the same time? Yes. Richard Wagner and Karl Marx were alive at the same time for 64 years, from 1818 to 1883. Richard Wagner was 4 when Karl Marx was born.Karl Marx was 64 when Richard Wagner died, aged 69. Richard WagnerGerman composerBorn 22 May 1813 · died 13 February 1883, aged 69Karl MarxGerman-born philosopherBorn 5 May 1818 · died 14 March 1883, aged 64 NapoleonAbraham LincolnRichard WagnerKarl MarxMahatma GandhiVladimir LeninAlbert Einstein Richard Wagner and Karl Marx in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.