Elon Musk is a billionaire serial entrepreneur, investor, and engineer with a net worth estimated to be around $81.6 billion. He has been involved in a wide range of businesses, from selling online payments and energy storage to electric vehicles and high-speed transportation technology, and has had an unprecedented effect on global markets and human innovation. But is Elon Musk a member of Mensa, the world’s most elite society of intellectuals?
Elon Musk’s exact IQ is not known, and Mensa has strict requirements for admission which involve taking a recognized IQ test and scoring in the 98th percentile, or higher. Unofficial estimates place Musk’s IQ somewhere in the 160s.1 This would qualify him to be eligible to join Mensa, but there is no public evidence that he has ever done so.
Although Musk is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant and inventive people alive today, he has expressed disinterest in the type of paper qualifications that Mensa would require. “I don’t know, I mean I don’t take any of those tests. I mean intelligence is, it’s really hard to define and you know it’s not clear where you draw the line.”2 He also tends to prefer measurable outcomes to abstract mental exercises: “I would rather make things than test my IQ, to be honest. I would rather spend my time creating useful things than answering quizzes.”3
In spite of his longstanding reputation as one of the world’s most renowned entrepreneurs and inventors, Elon Musk is not a member of Mensa. However, his contributions to the world’s economy, technology, and engineering have far surpassed any potential impact a membership could provide.
Business Acumen
Elon Musk is renowned for his extraordinary business aptitude. Before he was even 10 years old, he had taught himself to program and developed his own software that was eventually sold to a PC magazine. He later learned to build and repair rockets and helped invent the widely popularized internet payment system PayPal. In 2002, he used his PayPal earnings to form SpaceX and co-founded Tesla Motors in 2003.4
Over the past two decades, Musk’s companies have revolutionized the aerospace and automotive industries and pushed the boundaries of AI, renewable energy, and engineering. Tesla’s ability to successfully develop and market zero-emissions vehicles, and SpaceX’s ability to make commercial space exploration a reality, are examples of the major leaps his companies have accomplished.5
The success of Musk’s endeavors continues to prove that intelligence and practical problem-solving skills are not only superior to IQ tests, but that his approach to success is an example other entrepreneurs should follow.
Leadership
Musk’s staggering success is in large part due to his unique leadership style. His ability to identify opportunities and make strategic decisions have provided him with a distinct competitive edge. He values unconventional solutions, encourages risks and innovation, and promotes collaboration.
The Tesla and SpaceX teams have created some of the most advanced technologies and processes, while setting multiple industry records in the process. For example, Tesla’s Autopilot feature is the most advanced driver-assistance system available to the public, and SpaceX has achieved a revolution in space travel with its reusable rockets.
In addition to having incredible technical acuity and leading the way in manned space travel, Elon Musk is also a generous philanthropist. His three primary causes are space exploration, STEM education, and renewable energy sources – causes that are often neglected yet invaluable to humanity’s progress.
Uniqueness
Musk’s ability to think beyond the scope of conventional wisdom, and his willingness to attempt endeavors previously considered impossible, are two of his defining characteristics. He is a genuine risk-taker and refuses to be limited by the status quo.
In many ways, Musk is a reflection of the spirit of modernization and advancement, and he is precluded to continually reinvent and redefine the boundaries of high-level science, technology, and engineering. Regardless of his lack of Mensa membership, he stands in a league of his own and has undeniably revolutionized our perspective on progress.
Legacy
Musk pushes the boundaries of innovation and has inspired a generation of tech entrepreneurs to follow his example and explore the unknown. He has had a profound effect on the corporate landscape and his legacy is evident in the multitude of advances he has brought to the world.
The influence of Elon Musk and his business acumen, leadership, creativity, and vision have left a lasting imprint and have solidified his place in history as one of the most successful and revolutionary entrepreneurs of our time.
Impact
The long-term, societal consequences of Elon Musk’s ventures have yet to be fully realized. However, it is clear that his efforts have altered our understanding of the world and paved the way for a number of new industries and opportunities.
While his accomplishments have often been compared to those of the iconic tech titans of the past, he has proven to be an energy unto himself – uniquely determined and focused on developing solutions to the most pressing problems of our times. His successes ultimately demonstrate that intelligence and creativity are the underlying components of progress, and that creative problem-solving skills are far more potent than raw IQ.
Opinions
Various professionals have suggested that Elon Musk possesses an IQ that far surpasses the Mensa cutoff. Dr. Robert Plomin, an IQ expert and professor of Behavioral Genetics at King’s College London, has referred to Musk as “one of the smartest people in the world”, noting that individuals with IQ levels in the 140–150 range rarely “push things forward” in the way Musk has. Similarly, MIT professor Marie du Pr ́e has compared Musk to some of the most prolific inventors in history and praised his unique perspective and level of insight.6
In a world where intelligence is measured in numbers, it is clear that Elon Musk is a man who has transcended standardized tests and created a legacy that is legend.
Innovation
Elon Musk is renowned for his innovative approach to problem solving and his disinterest in the status quo. He has a knack for heavily investing in disruptive products and technologies and often comes up with unconventional solutions.
His unconventional thinking has enabled Musk to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, such as the future of transportation, renewable energy, and space exploration. He has revolutionized the way we think about progress and has established himself as a leader in each industry he touches.
At its core, Musk’s approach to business and technology is about taking risks, audaciously attempting and ultimately achieving the impossible, and creating solutions to the thorniest of problems. His success results from his ability to identify opportunities, defy conventional wisdom, and challenge the boundaries of modern science.
Recognition
Elon Musk’s achievements and the scope of his impact have garnered the admiration of prominent public figures and organizations. He has received a number of awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.7
Time Magazine has included him in it’s annual list of 100 most influential people several times, and he has been identified by the BBC as one of the most influential people in the 21st century. Additionally, a statue of him stands in his hometown of Pretoria, South Africa.8
Remarkably, although Elon Musk is not a Mensa member, his accomplishments and contributions to humanity have been officially recognized in a way far beyond what a Mensa membership could provide.
Conclusion
Although Elon Musk has never been a member of Mensa, it is clear that his extraordinary achievements and contributions to industry, science, and humanity surpass any potential benefit that a membership would bring. His genius and unparalleled levels of innovation, coupled with his risk-taking attitude and charisma, have led to some of the most disruptive products, technologies, and solutions of our time.
His success, influence, and impact have earned him numerous awards, global recognition, and a permanent place in history – cementing his status as one of the preeminent tech entrepreneurs of our era.
