Nikola Tesla wasn't diagnosed as autistic, as the condition wasn't understood then, but many modern experts and individuals speculate he displayed traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly Asperger's Syndrome, due to his intense focus, sensory sensitivities (light/sound), eccentric habits (number 3 obsession), social awkwardness, and deep intellectual dives, balanced with moments of charm and social interaction. While some traits align with autism (reclusiveness, routines), his social skills, showmanship, and broad interests complicate a simple diagnosis, with speculation also pointing to OCD or hypomania.
But even if you've heard the name in passing, you may not know much about Inventor, Engineer, Physicist, and Innovator, Nikola Tesla. And what is maybe even less well known is that he struggled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Dan Aykroyd, the famous actor and comedian renowned for his roles in films like Ghostbusters, has had a remarkable journey with Asperger's syndrome.
He was commonly placed in the top 20 people with the highest IQ. Tesla's IQ ranged from 160 to 310, depending on the measurement. But you are probably aware that everything above 130 is remarkable, and the fact that he found his place on the list of The 40 Smartest People of All Time is imposing.
Nikola Tesla's sad story involves a life of brilliant innovation overshadowed by tragic loneliness, financial struggles, and mental health challenges, including likely OCD and PTSD from childhood trauma, culminating in his death penniless and largely forgotten despite his foundational contributions to electricity, wireless technology, and modern power systems. He often felt misunderstood, clashed with rivals like Edison, gave up significant royalties to help others, and found solace only in pigeons, dying alone in a New York hotel room.
Hard to compare, Einstein wad a better thinker. His theories are vastly better than Teslas theories. However, Tesla was a doer. Both changed the world with respect to their strengths.
Nikola Tesla was probably something of a deist who believed in God but who did not participate in organized religion as an adult. He was raised in the Serbian Orthodox religion, in which his father was a priest.
Snoop Dogg has publicly stated he has an IQ of 147, a score that falls into the "highly gifted" or "genius" category, much to his own surprise given his self-described average school performance (straight Cs). While this self-reported score suggests exceptional intellect, IQ tests measure specific cognitive abilities, and success in life and business (like Snoop Dogg's multifaceted career as a rapper, entrepreneur, and media personality) reflects a broader range of intelligence and skills.
So was Tesla a genius or a charlatan? The answer, of course, is that he was a little of both. His contributions to the development of alternating current technology – and his polyphase motor in particular – were transformative. Many of his more ambitious visions were never realised nevertheless.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is one of the most well-known figures in modern technology. What many people don't know is that he has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism.
Physical Symptoms:
“If I were growing up today, I probably would be diagnosed on the autism spectrum. During my childhood, the fact that some people's brains process information differently from others wasn't widely understood,” Gates wrote, noting that the term “neurodivergent” would be coined in the 1990s.
Elon Musk. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and chairman of X (formerly known as Twitter), revealed during a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2021 that he has Asperger's syndrome.
We all know that Gaga is a creative genius, but it turns out she's an actual genius too with a widely-estimated IQ of 166, making her “exceptionally gifted” — and we don't disagree!
Madonna reportedly has a genius-level IQ of around 140, well above the average, with sources citing her intelligence and business acumen, often linking it to her ability to recognize patterns and disrupt culture. This high score is sometimes associated with her academic achievements, like receiving a scholarship to the University of Michigan, and her remarkable career longevity, making her a highly successful artist.
Emmy Award winner James Woods is an Oscar-nominee and superstar has a whopping IQ of 180. While in high school, Woods was in a UCLA linear algebra course. In addition, his SAT scores were amazing. Even though he had a full scholarship to MIT, Woods dropped out to pursue acting.
Stephen Hawking never officially revealed his IQ, and often dismissed the metric, famously saying, "People who boast about their IQ are losers". While estimates place his IQ around 160, a genius level, this is speculative; Hawking emphasized that creativity, persistence, and passion for science were more important than a single score, despite his profound impact on physics.
Matt Damon
The Hollywood heavyweight, who boasts an IQ of 160, famously completed the project with his longtime friend Ben Affleck.
Although IQ can change for an individual, across a population it is well established that IQ is stable across the lifespan. This does NOT mean that our abilities do not change as we age. IQ (as the name indicates) is a QUOTIENT, i.e., your score is calculated relative to persons of your age.
Einstein's rejection of a personal god
Throughout his life, Einstein made it clear that he did not believe in a personal god. He regarded the concept as an expression of human limitations rather than a reality.
Tesla was a modest man, with a keen sense of humor. His soft spoken and assuring voice held the listener's attention. In conversations he would often use poems as illustrations for the story.
Robert Boyle (1627–1691): Prominent scientist and theologian who argued that the study of science could improve glorification of God. A strong Christian apologist, he is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Chemistry.