From groundbreaking scientists like Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla to modern prodigies like Christopher Hirata and Marilyn vos Savant, these 11 geniuses are among the smartest people in world history.
Countless geniuses have made their mark on history, but who was the smartest person in the world? It’s a difficult thing to measure. Should intelligence simply be calculated by IQ? Or would it be more accurate to determine how large an impact an individual had on humanity thanks to their mental prowess?
With such a wide variety of groundbreaking achievements in fields ranging from math and science to astronomy and literature, it’s not truly possible to pinpoint one single person as the smartest in history. Who’s to say if Sir Isaac Newton was more intelligent than Stephen Hawking, William Shakespeare, Marie Curie, or the “father of algebra,” Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi?
Still, based on several key factors — IQ included — it is possible to put together a list of potential candidates, keeping in mind both their intelligence and their overall contribution to society.
While we can’t say with 100 percent certainty who the smartest person in the world is, here are 11 people who could fit the bill.
Was Albert Einstein The Smartest Person In The World?
Public DomainAlbert Einstein, the physicist who developed the theory of relativity.
Albert Einstein is often touted as a genius, and for good reason — his mark on science and history is matched by few others.
Despite common myths about his academic struggles, Einstein excelled in mathematics and physics. His intelligence, however, was not confined to mere rote learning; it was his remarkable ability to think abstractly and question established norms that set him apart.
Einstein’s theory of relativity revolutionized humanity’s understanding of space, time, and energy, fundamentally altering the landscape of theoretical physics. The theory of relativity comprises two parts: special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity introduced concepts like time dilation and mass-energy equivalence, while general relativity provided a new understanding of gravitation as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.
Einstein’s intelligence was not limited to his contributions to theoretical physics, though. He was a polymath with deep interests in philosophy, music, and even politics. His intellectual curiosity led him to question the nature of reality and existence itself, often blending scientific inquiry with philosophical contemplation. This holistic approach to knowledge allowed Einstein to make connections across disciplines.
Einstein’s lasting impact on the world extends beyond his scientific contributions. Before his death in 1955, his work laid the foundation for numerous technological advancements, including the development of nuclear energy and quantum mechanics. The latter, although initially resisted by Einstein due to its probabilistic nature, has become a cornerstone of modern physics and technology, influencing everything from semiconductors to medical imaging.
Albert Einstein also regularly emphasized the importance of curiosity and imagination, famously stating, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”
