Marilyn Monroe Had a 165 IQ: Here's Why It's Not Surprising

With an estimated IQ of 165, Marilyn Monroe was the epitome of beauty, and she left a never fading mark on the industry. She was made famous for her looks and glamor and therefore the intellectual side of her tends to be dismissed. Monroe was a highly intelligent person, evident in her strategic decision making which challenges the stereotypical view of the dumb blonde which was common in her initial films. She took a keen interest in literature and philosophy as a way of deepening her knowledge. Apart from that, Monroe interviews also highlighted her genius, seeing that she is still quoted today.

Despite having a higher IQ than the average person, Marilyn Monroe encountered challenges that made her life in the spotlight complex. She had been diagnosed with anxiety which would make her forget her lines on stage. Additionally, she was under immense pressure to maintain the perfect girl image. Yet, she managed to radiate unparalleled magnetism and perfection on the screens. Today, Monroe is a role model to all actresses. She acts as an inspiration for all women as she had to fight her way to the top in a male-dominated world.

Marilyn Monroe's IQ vs Albert Einstein's

Many people like to draw a comparison between Marilyn Monroe's intelligence and Albert Einstein’s. While Einstein's IQ is said to be about 160, Monroe comes close after with 165. However, comparing their IQ levels could be a stretch since for a fair comparison to exist, both of them must take the same test and under the same conditions. Additionally, Monroe’s genius is not even remotely related to Einstein's genius. While Monroe excelled in creative pursuits, Einstein's achievements were in mathematics. There is no solid proof that Monroe did in fact take an IQ test. Therefore, her intelligence level was examined purely based on her interviews and career pursuits. For Instance, her interest in philosophy and history has made people believe that she was indeed very smart. Her extensive library also proves her intellect.

While it is important to appreciate her high level of intellect, it is also important not to exaggerate. However, her legacy as a legendary actress, shrewd businesswoman and great thinker should be celebrated just like how Einstein's groundbreaking discoveries in science earned him praise.

5 Reasons Why Marilyn Monroe's Genius Isn't Surprising

• Art and Culture Appreciation: Monroe loved art and culture which can be demonstrated by her art collections.
• Avid Reader: Monroe was an avid reader which can be proved by the extensive library she owned with more than 400 books. The scope of her books collection is deemed to be among the biggest indicators of her high level of intelligence – ranging from classics to modern literature. Through this collection, her immense love for immersing her intelligence in diverse literature environments could be seen clearly.
• High IQ Score: Her IQ of 165 meant that Marilyn Monroe was well above the average person in terms of wits. This exceedingly high IQ was a stark contrast to the dumb blonde Hollywood persona she had taken on.
• Philosophical: Monroe developed an interest in philosophy which led to her to take on philosophy classes at UCLA. This interest in philosophy illustrates her pursuit for personal and intellectual growth that went beyond her acting career.
• Interest in Creative Writing: She developed an interest in philosophy which led to her to take on philosophy classes at UCLA.

Where Does Marilyn Monroe's IQ Score Stand?

With an IQ of 165, Monroe set herself aside from the average person. Such intellectual capability can only be found in 1 in 150,000 people, therefore cementing her place as a great thinker. In fact, this score surpasses the entry requirements for elite high IQ clubs, such as the exclusive Epimetheus society, whose members lie in the top 0.003%. If she were alive today, she would be a good fit for Triple Nine society, Mensa and Intertel.

Marilyn Monroe was a multifaceted woman, and if she were alive today, her intelligence would have been recognized. True to this, modern Monroe supporters are against the oversexualized image of her and lean more towards her classy image. In fact, according to Steve Handerson, owner of Advanced Graphics, her best-selling stand-up full-size pictures are of the more elegant version of her- the elegant gowns, behind-the-scenes moments, and candid shots of her reading a book. The modern Monroe image highlights her grace, intellect, and vulnerability. This is a stark contrast to the photographs that made her famous, where she was packaged as the ultimate fantasy. Modern-day Monroe fans see her as a woman with depth, who fought against the limitations placed upon her in a period where it was hard for women to succeed.

What Does Marilyn Monroe’s Letter Prove About Her Intelligence?

After her death, people began to pay close attention to the letters she wrote, her book library and the interviews where she explicitly expressed her frustrations of being misunderstood. Her letters revealed a woman who was struggling with complicated emotions. Her poems were a reflection of her life, demonstrating deep introspection. She wrote widely on loneliness, human nature, and the search for meaning, which shows that she had a curious mind. In one of her writings, she expressed her struggles with fame and the industry: "I am trying to find myself. Sometimes that’s not easy." Her entries showed vulnerability and honesty- a clear picture of her complex inner world.

Marilyn was not intimidated by intelligence; in fact, she actively yearned for it. For one, she married Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Arthur Miller with whom she shared a deeply intellectual relationship. Sarah Churchwell's book “The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe" reveals that Monroe believed that her husband Miller was attracted to her not just because of her appearance but her wits too. “He wouldn’t have married me if I had been nothing but a dumb blonde.” Monroe said. Her adoration of deep conversations and interactions with brilliant minds could also be seen in her relationships. Case in point, her close relationship with American poet, writer, and historian Carl Sandburg.

How Did Marilyn Monroe’s 165 IQ Help Her Succeed in Hollywood?

So, the question is, how did her 165 IQ help contribute toward her success in Hollywood? She constantly displayed her creativity and artistic expression, where she would add depth and complexity to her characters. She would be fully immersed in the role, and this allowed her to bring one-dimensional characters to fully actualized individuals. It is possible to experience this aspect first-hand by looking at the comedy film Some Like it Hot where she demonstrated her uncanny ability to balance humor and vulnerability. Many concur that it’s purely her intelligence that enabled her to reveal her on-screen character's desires and insecurities. Another example is The Misfits where her innate intellect enabled her to draw from her personal struggles and channel them into a character. Monroe did not stop at that. She went further and learned method acting. It is an acting technique that requires extreme emotional expressiveness. The skills she learned prove pivotal in the film Bus Stop, where she played Cherie. In this role, she was required to exhibit depth and nuance – and she did just that. It is no surprise then, that in the book The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell paints her as a deeply thoughtful, ambitious, self-aware, and intellectually curious woman. She understood how to leverage the media to her advantage. She often fitted into the “dumb blonde” persona when it was needed and on other times, revealed her intellect in her personal writings and interviews. She fully understood how the masses perceived her and made that work to her advantage. All these can be seen in one of her most famous quotes, “I can be smart when it's important, but most men don't like it.”

This suggests a level of social intelligence and adaptability, as she could control how she was perceived based on the situation. In this instance, she made a sharp observation about sexism; she understood that her intelligence could be intimidating and that they preferred her to play the role of the glamorous, carefree blonde rather than an intellectual equal.

Despite her intelligence Marilyn struggled to memorise lines; a skill that is required of every actor. For instance, when she was filming “Some Like It Hot” in 1959, there was a scene where she was to look inside a dresser drawer and say the line “where’s the bourbon?”, she reportedly had so much trouble getting it right that the director had the line displayed in that dresser. However, she made up for that with her passion for acting and ability to transform well into her characters. She also brought in emotional depth and vulnerability to her roles. Therefore, her struggle memorizing lines was not a reflection of her lack of intellect, but the intense pressure she was under. She was constantly experiencing anxiety and insecurity, which made her forgetful and nervous during performances.

Marilyn Monroe was also very strategic in her career, which allowed her to craft a public image, make bold career moves, and control her trajectory. Intelligence isn't just about a high IQ score, it is also demonstrated by how we navigate life challenges and react to our emotions. All through her life, starting with foster care, to becoming one of he most famous actresses, Monroe was strategic and resilient. For one, Marilyn was not her birth name- she was Nomea Jeane, but to make a more glamorous and memorable name, she took up her mother's maiden name, “Monroe,” while Marilyn was inspired by Broadway actress Marilyn Miller. With this move, she was able to make up a persona that resonated with the audience. Yet, she was painfully aware of the mental toll the persona took on her, and she eventually switched up from that dumb blonde persona.

Monroe's unparalleled emotional intelligence was made evident by how she was able to retain a sense of self while facing public scrutiny. For instance, when her famous nude calendar shoot in 1949 resurfaced in 1952, she took control of the narrative and admitted that financial struggles had led her to make the decision. Her vulnerability won the hearts of many people and her career even got a boost.

Not to forget that after she filmed the 1963 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” she discovered that her co-star Jane Russell had been paid significantly more. She went on to demand higher pay in future films.

Did Marilyn Monroe Go to School?

Although Marilyn Monroe didn't have a formal education, she still pursued learning as a part of her personal growth. Her quest for learning led her to register for literature classes at UCLA. She also sought acting classes from famous acting coach Lee Starsberg. Lee's acting classes were intellectually and emotionally taxing, but Monroe was able to successfully navigate.

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Her intellectual curiosity is further demonstrated when she read the complex novel “The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky and held a book review with her peers. This is not an isolated incident; Monroe would seek out influential artists and the greatest minds of the time. When she found herself in these situations, she was an active participant, often vocalizing her perspective. Consequently, she participated in discussions revolving around politics, literature, and human nature. Miller, her husband, was very open about Monroe's insights and observations, which seemed to shock many who underestimated her.

Additionally, Truman Capote talked about Monroe's ability to delve into complex matters with emotional intelligence. According to Truman, Monroe had a great interest in perfecting her craft and increasing her knowledge base.

How Did Marilyn Monroe’s Intelligence Help Her in Business?

Marilyn Monroe's strategic career moves would then lead her to establish her own production company, and she had her reasons. Despite her success in Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe was still underpaid. For instance, she received an $18,000 payout while her co-star Jane Russell received $100,000.

Furthermore, Hollywood had limited her to dumb blonde roles. This led her to end her contract with Hollywood studios and move back to New York. At the time, such a move was considered career suicide.

In 1955, she established her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions- the first production company founded by a woman in a male-dominated industry. That meant that she had more control over her career. Using this as her platform, she was able to negotiate a great payout from the film “The Prince and the Showgirl.” In the making of this film, Monroe was not just an actress- she had a say in production too.

Additionally, Marilyn was able to secure a percentage of profits from films she starred in, which was not popular at the time. Her move to negotiate better contracts set the stage for future actresses in an industry where actors have little bargaining power.

Monroe’s intellect went beyond acting. In business, she also proved to be an intellectual force that could not be overlooked. She was aware that her image was perfect for branding and merchandising. As a result, she bagged quite a number of brand deals, including Coca-Cola, Pabst beer, and Lux soap. She cracked a business niche that was largely unexplored and succeeded at it, further reaffirming her intellect.

How High Is Marilyn Monroe's IQ Compared to Fellow Actors?

Interestingly, Marilyn Monroe shares her elite intellect spot with quite a few other celebrities. One such celebrity is James Woods with an IQ of 181, Woods is more than an actor. You might recognize him from movies and TV shows such as Ghosts of Mississippi, Once Upon a Time in America and Salvador. He also doubles up as a voice actor in Disney's Hercules. He has also succeeded in academics and proven to be a strategic thinker.

Similarly, Rowan Atkinson's intelligence, scored at 178, demonstrated by his accurate comedic timing and strong academic background. His mastery of language and speech is highlighted in Blackadder, a show where he delivered rapid, complex dialogue with precision. Apart from that, he can smoothly switch from physical comedy, satire, and voice acting, which makes him a true comedic genius.

Few know that Ashton Kutcher, with an IQ of 160, is not just a pretty face but also a savvy investor in tech startups. His intellect is further highlighted by his biochemical engineering degree. He has also shown strategic foresight by his ability to make successful investments and identify trends in technology. For example, in November 2022, he invested in Pearpop, a social media collaboration marketplace with a valuation of $300 million. A few months later, he made headlines after participating in a $235 million Series D funding round for an open-source AI company known as Hugging Face.

Matching Kutcher's scores are Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio, both at 160. Their intelligence shapes their choices of socially impactful film roles. On top of being an award-winning screenplay writer, Matt Damon has also attended Harvard University and often leaned toward highly intellectual characters such as Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity series. On the other hand, following his success in the film Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio switched his roles and seemed to prefer more challenging and complex characters. He has also become more vocal on matters environmental and climate change. His commitment to the course has seen the United Nations designate him as the UN Messenger of Peace for Climate Change.

Do you think Marilyn Monroe's 165 IQ accurately reflect Her's brain power? Scroll down and let us know in the comments below!

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Explore the IQ of Other Celebrities

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What Does Marilyn Monroe’s Letter Prove About Her Intelligence?

After her death, people began to pay close attention to the letters she wrote, her book library and the interviews where she explicitly expressed her frustrations of being misunderstood. Her letters revealed a woman who was struggling with complicated emotions. Her poems were a reflection of her life, demonstrating deep introspection. She wrote widely on loneliness, human nature, and the search for meaning, which shows that she had a curious mind. In one of her writings, she expressed her struggles with fame and the industry: "I am trying to find myself. Sometimes that’s not easy." Her entries showed vulnerability and honesty- a clear picture of her complex inner world.

Marilyn was not intimidated by intelligence; in fact, she actively yearned for it. For one, she married Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Arthur Miller with whom she shared a deeply intellectual relationship. Sarah Churchwell's book “The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe" reveals that Monroe believed that her husband Miller was attracted to her not just because of her appearance but her wits too. “He wouldn’t have married me if I had been nothing but a dumb blonde.” Monroe said. Her adoration of deep conversations and interactions with brilliant minds could also be seen in her relationships. Case in point, her close relationship with American poet, writer, and historian Carl Sandburg.

How Did Marilyn Monroe’s 165 IQ Help Her Succeed in Hollywood?

So, the question is, how did her 165 IQ help contribute toward her success in Hollywood? She constantly displayed her creativity and artistic expression, where she would add depth and complexity to her characters. She would be fully immersed in the role, and this allowed her to bring one-dimensional characters to fully actualized individuals. It is possible to experience this aspect first-hand by looking at the comedy film Some Like it Hot where she demonstrated her uncanny ability to balance humor and vulnerability. Many concur that it’s purely her intelligence that enabled her to reveal her on-screen character's desires and insecurities. Another example is The Misfits where her innate intellect enabled her to draw from her personal struggles and channel them into a character. Monroe did not stop at that. She went further and learned method acting. It is an acting technique that requires extreme emotional expressiveness. The skills she learned prove pivotal in the film Bus Stop, where she played Cherie. In this role, she was required to exhibit depth and nuance – and she did just that. It is no surprise then, that in the book The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell paints her as a deeply thoughtful, ambitious, self-aware, and intellectually curious woman. She understood how to leverage the media to her advantage. She often fitted into the “dumb blonde” persona when it was needed and on other times, revealed her intellect in her personal writings and interviews. She fully understood how the masses perceived her and made that work to her advantage. All these can be seen in one of her most famous quotes, “I can be smart when it's important, but most men don't like it.”

This suggests a level of social intelligence and adaptability, as she could control how she was perceived based on the situation. In this instance, she made a sharp observation about sexism; she understood that her intelligence could be intimidating and that they preferred her to play the role of the glamorous, carefree blonde rather than an intellectual equal.

Despite her intelligence Marilyn struggled to memorise lines; a skill that is required of every actor. For instance, when she was filming “Some Like It Hot” in 1959, there was a scene where she was to look inside a dresser drawer and say the line “where’s the bourbon?”, she reportedly had so much trouble getting it right that the director had the line displayed in that dresser. However, she made up for that with her passion for acting and ability to transform well into her characters. She also brought in emotional depth and vulnerability to her roles. Therefore, her struggle memorizing lines was not a reflection of her lack of intellect, but the intense pressure she was under. She was constantly experiencing anxiety and insecurity, which made her forgetful and nervous during performances.

Marilyn Monroe was also very strategic in her career, which allowed her to craft a public image, make bold career moves, and control her trajectory. Intelligence isn't just about a high IQ score, it is also demonstrated by how we navigate life challenges and react to our emotions. All through her life, starting with foster care, to becoming one of he most famous actresses, Monroe was strategic and resilient. For one, Marilyn was not her birth name- she was Nomea Jeane, but to make a more glamorous and memorable name, she took up her mother's maiden name, “Monroe,” while Marilyn was inspired by Broadway actress Marilyn Miller. With this move, she was able to make up a persona that resonated with the audience. Yet, she was painfully aware of the mental toll the persona took on her, and she eventually switched up from that dumb blonde persona.

Monroe's unparalleled emotional intelligence was made evident by how she was able to retain a sense of self while facing public scrutiny. For instance, when her famous nude calendar shoot in 1949 resurfaced in 1952, she took control of the narrative and admitted that financial struggles had led her to make the decision. Her vulnerability won the hearts of many people and her career even got a boost.

Not to forget that after she filmed the 1963 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” she discovered that her co-star Jane Russell had been paid significantly more. She went on to demand higher pay in future films.

Did Marilyn Monroe Go to School?

Although Marilyn Monroe didn't have a formal education, she still pursued learning as a part of her personal growth. Her quest for learning led her to register for literature classes at UCLA. She also sought acting classes from famous acting coach Lee Starsberg. Lee's acting classes were intellectually and emotionally taxing, but Monroe was able to successfully navigate.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by UCLA Extension (@uclaextension)

Her intellectual curiosity is further demonstrated when she read the complex novel “The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky and held a book review with her peers. This is not an isolated incident; Monroe would seek out influential artists and the greatest minds of the time. When she found herself in these situations, she was an active participant, often vocalizing her perspective. Consequently, she participated in discussions revolving around politics, literature, and human nature. Miller, her husband, was very open about Monroe's insights and observations, which seemed to shock many who underestimated her.

Additionally, Truman Capote talked about Monroe's ability to delve into complex matters with emotional intelligence. According to Truman, Monroe had a great interest in perfecting her craft and increasing her knowledge base.

How Did Marilyn Monroe’s Intelligence Help Her in Business?

Marilyn Monroe's strategic career moves would then lead her to establish her own production company, and she had her reasons. Despite her success in Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe was still underpaid. For instance, she received an $18,000 payout while her co-star Jane Russell received $100,000.

Furthermore, Hollywood had limited her to dumb blonde roles. This led her to end her contract with Hollywood studios and move back to New York. At the time, such a move was considered career suicide.

In 1955, she established her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions- the first production company founded by a woman in a male-dominated industry. That meant that she had more control over her career. Using this as her platform, she was able to negotiate a great payout from the film “The Prince and the Showgirl.” In the making of this film, Monroe was not just an actress- she had a say in production too.

Additionally, Marilyn was able to secure a percentage of profits from films she starred in, which was not popular at the time. Her move to negotiate better contracts set the stage for future actresses in an industry where actors have little bargaining power.

Monroe’s intellect went beyond acting. In business, she also proved to be an intellectual force that could not be overlooked. She was aware that her image was perfect for branding and merchandising. As a result, she bagged quite a number of brand deals, including Coca-Cola, Pabst beer, and Lux soap. She cracked a business niche that was largely unexplored and succeeded at it, further reaffirming her intellect.