What was Albert Einstein’s IQ?

While rumors claim Einstein's IQ was between 150 and 207, there is no evidence he was tested. Learn the truth about his intelligence and legacy.

Dr. Russell T. WarneChief Scientist

There is no evidence that Albert Einstein ever took an IQ test. No IQ tests for adults had been invented until Einstein was 39 years old and already a world-famous physicist. He would not have needed to take an IQ test, and he would have had nothing to gain by doing so. Therefore, any claim that Albert Einstein “had an IQ of 160” or any other number is inaccurate. Einstein never “had an IQ.” The same is true for Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, or many other historical figures.

There have been some estimates of Albert Einstein’s intelligence level, and these have been expressed as an IQ score. The numbers vary widely, though: from 150 to 207 and more. The fact that the estimates are so different show that any one particular number is probably not accurate.

There are methods for retroactively estimating IQ, but they have not been applied to Albert Einstein. Until they are, then it is safe to say that Einstein was a very bright person who made unique contributions to science. We know that he was at the top of his scientific field and very accomplished. It is not clear that applying a number to his intellect provides any new or useful information.

Watch “Human Intelligence vs. AI: What Really Defines ‘Smart’?” with Gilles Gignac on the Riot IQ YouTube channel to explore why famous IQ estimates often miss the bigger picture of intelligence.