Analysing your IQ
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Inventor
Nikola Tesla's IQ is estimated at 160+, placing them in the Profoundly Gifted classification.
This historiometric estimate is based on documented accomplishments, complexity of work, and contemporary accounts from the 20th Century era.
Methodology Note: This is a psychobiographical analysis based on documented behavior, contemporary accounts, and historiometric research methods. IQ estimates for historical figures are approximations derived from complexity of work and documented accomplishments. This is interpretation, not clinical diagnosis.
What made Nikola Tesla exceptional wasn't just talent—it was a specific configuration of traits that the 20th Century rewarded. Understanding that configuration is the point of this page.
Historiometric estimate
Extreme Openness paired with OCD tendencies. High visual-spatial IQ but low social intelligence.
The dominant archetype here is The Visionary. This archetype shapes decision patterns: what feels natural, what creates friction, and what blind spots tend to emerge.
Estimated IQ is ~160+. This is a rough historiometric estimate based on documented accomplishments and contemporary accounts—not a literal measurement.
Nikola could construct and manipulate complex mental models without external aids—a trait associated with exceptional spatial-visual processing.
Nikola pursued single problems for years at a time, often at the expense of health and relationships. This level of focus is rare and comes with tradeoffs.
Nikola preferred working alone, suggesting either high introversion or low need for external validation.
The 20th Century created specific selection pressures that rewarded Nikola's profile. In a different era, the same traits might have produced different outcomes.
Nikola's greatest strength (Visualization and Obsession) was also their greatest liability when taken to extremes.
The The Visionary archetype tends to succeed in environments that reward bold action and long-term vision, but struggles in environments that demand consensus-building.
One pattern worth noting: Nikola's output was most productive when external constraints forced focus. Without structure, the same traits that enabled greatness sometimes led to overreach.
If Nikola Tesla were alive today, the closest modern parallel might be Vitalik Buterin. The comparison isn't about accomplishment level—it's about operating style: similar strengths, similar blind spots, similar friction patterns.
For a deeper understanding of Nikola Tesla's psychology, consider primary biographies that document behavior patterns, decision-making, and personal correspondence.
Historiometric methods used in IQ estimation are based on research by Cox (1926), Simonton (1994), and others who analyze documented accomplishments as proxies for cognitive ability.
Explore psychological profiles of contemporary figures analyzed with similar methods.
Browse All ProfilesTraits commonly observed in individuals with Nikola Tesla's cognitive profile:
Nikola Tesla's estimated IQ is 160+, which places them in the Profoundly Gifted classification. This historiometric estimate is based on documented accomplishments, complexity of work, and contemporary accounts—not a literal IQ test score, as standardized testing didn't exist in their era.
Yes, with an estimated IQ of 160+, Nikola qualifies as Profoundly Gifted level intelligence. However, "genius" oversimplifies their profile. Their The Visionary archetype, combined with Visualization and Obsession, better explains their exceptional output.
Nikola fits the The Visionary archetype. Key traits include Visualization, Obsession, and Solitude. This psychological profile explains both their strengths and documented failure modes.
The closest modern parallel to Nikola Tesla is Vitalik Buterin. This comparison is based on operating style, The Visionary archetype, and similar trait configuration—not accomplishment level.
Nikola's profile teaches that extreme strengths create extreme tradeoffs. Their Visualization and Obsession enabled success but also created recurring friction patterns.