Albert Einstein’s IQ has been a topic of speculation for decades, with estimates ranging from 150 to over 200. However, no concrete evidence exists that Einstein ever took an IQ test. The widely accepted figure of 160 is based on assumptions rather than verified data.
Historical sources, including LIFE magazine and various books, have provided inconsistent estimates. Despite these numbers, Einstein’s success was driven by more than just intelligence—his creativity, persistence, and curiosity played a crucial role.
In this article, I examine the origins of Einstein’s estimated IQ, the inconsistencies in reported values, and the factors that genuinely defined his genius.
What is Albert Einstein IQ?
Predictions are made that Einstein’s IQ was around 160. If proved correct, it would make him smarter than about 99% of the population.
But is this generally announced number correct? An article published in 2022 by a British newspaper, The Independent, says It’s not known if Albert Einstein underwent an intelligence test.
Where did the opinion of 160 come from if that’s the case?
An article from Mindvalley states, “For context, while there is no evidence that he was ever tested, it is estimated that Albert Einstein had a score of around 160.”
Similarly, The Times of India article states that experts have estimated his IQ score to be around 160 based on his academic records, seminars, and research articles.
Was There Any IQ Test That Einstein Took?
There is no evidence to prove that Albert Einstein took any IQ tests.
Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany, in 1879. That means he was around 26 when the first intelligence test was created in France in 1905.
In 1905, Einstein published four physics papers. One was his Special and General Theory of Relativity, and another paper contained his famous energy-mass equivalence equation E = mc2.
The first IQ test for grown-ups, the Army Alpha, was invented in the United States of America in 1917. By this time, Einstein was already 39 years old and living in Europe. He was a globally acclaimed researcher.
Given his stature, I don’t think he would have taken an IQ test between 1917 and 1955. ( He died in 1955.)
Estimates Of Einstein’s IQ During His Life
The primary outcome of my research on Einstein’s IQ score over his lifetime was a LIFE magazine article published on 12 November 1945. The article, titled “Yale Prodigy,” talks about 14-year-old Merril Kenneth Wolf, the youngest graduate from Yale University. The magazine reported that he had an IQ score of 182, “which is only 23 points lower than Einstein’s.” This means Einstein’s IQ had to be around 205.
Well, LIFE was inconsistent with Einstein’s IQ. In 1954, the magazine published an approximation of score 192 as Einstein’s IQ in an article named “A Little, Lonely Genius” about a child prodigy in 1954.
And this kind of inconsistency is not limited to LIFE.
Estimates Of Einstein’s IQ After His Life
The variability in Einstein’s IQ estimates continued after he died in 1955. In 1962, an author in the article “Does anyone know what an IQ means?” of the Popular Mechanics magazine stated:
“Einstein, who never took an intelligence test, was estimated to have an IQ of 207.”
A United States Congressional Hearing in 1963 advocated that an individual with a 180 IQ score has to be “on the level of Darwin, Freud, Shaw, Pasteur, Einstein.”
Moreover, in 1974, Mariann Olden, a eugenicist, stated in a self-published work that “ Einstein’s IQ was 205.”
By 1976, while reviewing the book Einstein: The Life and Times by R.W.Clark, one magazine article writer asserted, “It has been estimated that Einstein’s IQ- Intelligence Quotient- was higher than that of any human being who has ever lived.”
Frost and Moore, in a nurturing book called The Little Boy Book: A Guide to the First Eight Years, published in 1986, professed without any evidence that Einstein had a calculated IQ score of around 200.
Additionally, David Cohen, in his book How the Child’s Mind Develops, published in 2002, wrote that Albert Einstein’s IQ score has been computed above 180.
In his 2008 book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell estimates Einstein’s IQ score at 150.
Analysis Of Einstein’s IQ
The most astonishing feature of these IQ estimates is how consistently inconsistent they are. These reported estimates range from approximately 150 to 207, which gives the impression that any specific number may not be reliable.
Even though 160 is a typical value reported in the popular press in the 21st century, there is nothing special about this number, and it is unclear how the modern media settled on it.
Brian M. Hughes is the only person I could find who made assertions about Einstein’s IQ. In his book Psychology in Crisis, published in 2018, he stated, “ Einstein’s IQ was 160.”, with no citation to support the claim.
A more prudent affirmation comes from Ruud Weijermars, a geomechanics professor. In his book Building Corporate IQ – Moving the Energy Business from Smart to Genius, he wrote, “Einstein’s IQ is commonly established at about 160, but any formal test results have not been publicly confirmed.”
Weijermars’s quote shows that Einstein’s IQ scores usually lack credible references.
What’s The Contribution of Einstein’s IQ In His Success?
Einstein’s success cannot be solely attributed to his IQ, as intelligence is just one factor among many that contributed to his achievements.
Einstein’s success can be attributed to creativity, persistence and curiosity, work ethic, interdisciplinary thinking, communication skills, and collaboration.
While Einstein’s high IQ might have contributed to his success, we must remember that it was just one piece of the puzzle.
More In IQ
Conclusion: Albert Einstein’s IQ Score Is Between 150 And 207.
As I mentioned, the popular opinion about Albert Einstein’s IQ score is 160 (which is in the range of 150-207).
However, as per my research, I have deduced that no claim of Albert Einstein’s IQ score is trustworthy.
However, specific historiometric methods can give us a rough estimate of Albert Einstein’s IQ. Catherine Cox Miles, an American psychologist, introduced the process of estimating the IQ of historical individuals. Many researchers have endorsed and supported her historiometric methods. For example, Dean K. Simonton authenticated the technique in 2020 in his study. But sadly, no one has applied this method to determine Einstein’s IQ score.
It doesn’t matter whether Einstein’s IQ was 150 or 207. His legacy proves that intelligence is just one piece of the puzzle and true success comes from dedication, innovative thinking, and the ability to challenge conventional wisdom.
