TITLE: Example of a Mathematician/Physicist whose Other Publications during their PhD eclipsed their PhD Thesis
QUESTION [30 upvotes]: I am wondering if there is some example of a mathematician or physicist who published other papers at the same time as their PhD work and independently of it which actually eclipsed the content of the PhD thesis.
The only semi-example I can think of immediately is Einstein, whose other publications in 1905 (especially on special relativity and the photoelectric effect) eclipsed his PhD thesis which was published in the same year.  Although it contained important insights, it was somewhat forgotten to the point where he felt that he had to remind people about it.
Although this is a soft question, I didn't ask in Academia as I didn't want examples outside of mathematics and physics.

REPLY [5 votes]: Well, Art Garfunkel (Simon and Garfunkel) certainly has his other "publications" being more famous than his (never-completed) PhD in math.
Then there's Brian May from Queen, with a PhD in astrophysics, who is more famous for other publications.