When most people hear the name Marilyn Monroe, they think of blonde curls, red lips, and sultry elegance. But beneath that iconic image was a woman frequently underestimated — and perhaps deeply misunderstood.
Rumors claim Marilyn Monroe had an IQ of 168 — higher than Einstein’s. But is it fact or just flattering fiction?
Let’s explore the truth behind her intelligence, and how much of Marilyn’s mind was masked by Hollywood’s spotlight.
The claim that Monroe had an IQ of 168 is widely circulated but undocumented. No official IQ test result has ever been released. So where did the number come from?
Most likely, it stems from a mixture of:
While the 168 figure remains unverified, the depth of her intellect is supported by a range of facts.
Marilyn owned over 400 books, ranging from Dostoevsky to Freud to Whitman. Unlike the “dumb blonde” roles she was cast in, her personal interests included:
“I don’t mind being burdened with being glamorous and sexual. But what goes with it is a burden... I’m a very serious person.” — Marilyn Monroe
IQ isn't only about logic puzzles or math. Monroe’s intelligence came through in more nuanced ways:
Even if Monroe’s exact IQ remains a mystery, intelligence isn’t always captured in a test. The combination of:
…suggests a mind far beyond the image she projected.
Marilyn Monroe’s story is a cautionary tale about how society defines intelligence, especially for women in the spotlight. The real tragedy isn’t whether she had an IQ of 168 — it’s that few cared to find out.
Monroe may not have worn glasses or given TED Talks, but behind the beauty was a woman who read, thought, questioned, and felt deeply.