The Woman with the Highest IQ in the World – And Why Her Answer Divided Science

With an IQ of 228, Marilyn vos Savant long held the record for the highest IQ in the world. A score that exceeded the measurable intelligences of Einstein (160-190), Hawking (160), or Musk (155). Yet, it was a seemingly simple question’s answer that made her the target of criticism—not only from laypeople but also from PhDs and scholars worldwide.

An extraordinary talent from the start

Marilyn was no ordinary child. By age 10, she could memorize entire books, devoured all 24 volumes of the Britannica Encyclopedia, and amazed testers and psychologists. Her IQ record seemed to confirm her bright future. She was destined to become a genius—at least on paper.

Reality was different. Despite her exceptional intellect, she attended a regular public school. After just two years at the University of Washington, she left to support her family. For years, her talent went unrecognized. “No one was particularly interested in me, mostly because I was a girl. But I accepted that,” she would later reflect.

The turning point: world record and public spotlight

1985 marked her breakthrough. Guinness World Records recognized her as the “Highest IQ Holder,” suddenly thrusting her into the limelight. Magazine covers like New York Magazine and Parade featured her face. She appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. Fate had turned— or so it seemed.

Marilyn found a job at Parade magazine and began her famous column “Ask Marilyn.” For a passionate writer, it was a dream. But the nightmare would follow quickly.

The Monty Hall Paradox: A mathematical puzzle dividing science

In September 1990, Marilyn received a question that would change her life. Inspired by Monty Hall, the host of the popular game show. The problem seemed simple:

You participate in a game show. In front of you are three doors. Behind one is a car, behind the other two, a goat each. You choose a door. The host then opens another door, revealing a goat. Now you have the option to switch or stay with your original choice. What should you do?

Marilyn’s answer was clear: “Yes, you should switch.”

Why thousands of scholars had a completely different opinion

What followed was nothing less than a scientific controversy. Marilyn received over 10,000 letters. Nearly 1,000 of these came from PhD holders. And about 90% of all correspondents were convinced she was fundamentally wrong:

• “You’re the goat!”
• “You totally messed up, badly!”
• “Maybe women think about math differently than men.”

The reasons for this skepticism were diverse and revealed an interesting weakness in human thinking.

The mathematical truth behind the apparent paradox

Let’s look at the two scenarios:

Scenario 1: You initially chose the door with the car (Probability: 1/3)

• You switch doors → You lose

Scenario 2: You initially chose a goat (Probability: 2/3)

• The host reveals the other goat
• You switch doors → You win

The mathematical reality: switching gives you a 2/3 chance of winning, not 50%.

MIT conducted computer simulations that confirmed Marilyn’s answer. The TV series MythBusters performed practical tests and arrived at the same conclusion. Eventually, some of the critical scientists admitted their mistakes and publicly apologized.

Why our minds deceive us on the Monty Hall problem

The fascinating question remains: How could so many intelligent people misunderstand a simple probability problem? The answer lies in human cognition:

Resetting the situation: People tend to update their mental model when new information arrives. Unconsciously, they forget that the host had to know which door hid the goat. This fundamentally changes the probability distribution.

The illusion of equal probability: With only three options, we instinctively assume each has a 50/50 chance. Our brains systematically underestimate the influence of prior information.

The small sample size: Paradoxically, the simplicity of the problem makes it harder to understand. With only three doors, we lack the statistical intuition that larger numbers would make obvious.

Marilyn’s case reveals a deep truth: a high IQ does not protect against cognitive biases—it is the ability to challenge our intuition and accept mathematical logic that counts. The woman with the highest IQ in the world demonstrated not only her intellectual superiority but also something more valuable: the courage to stand for the truth, even when the whole world thinks differently.