Few people have shaped our understanding of the universe quite like Albert Einstein. His name is synonymous with genius, yet behind the iconic equations and wild hair lies a surprisingly human story—one of a late-talking child, a reluctant student, and a pacifist who fled persecution.

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Born: 14 March 1879, Ulm, Germany ·
Died: 18 April 1955, Princeton, USA ·
Known for: Theory of Relativity, E=mc² ·
Nobel Prize: Physics 1921 ·
Estimated IQ: 160–190 (speculative) ·
Number of wives: 2

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • His exact IQ – no test was ever taken; estimates vary from 160 to 190
  • Whether he had ADHD – posthumous speculation only, no clinical diagnosis
  • Some of his famous quotes are frequently misattributed
  • The extent of his religious beliefs is often oversimplified
3Timeline signal
  • 1905: Annus Mirabilis – five groundbreaking papers (PBS NOVA)
  • 1915: General relativity completed (PBS NOVA)
  • 1921: First visit to the United States (DIPC Timeline)
  • 1933: Fled to Princeton, USA (DIPC Timeline)
4What’s next
  • Einstein’s brain continues to be studied by neuroscientists
  • His letters and archives are still being digitised and published
  • Theories of relativity remain foundational in modern physics

Among the key facts about Einstein’s life, a handful stand out for their clarity and documentation:

Attribute Detail
Full name Albert Einstein
Birth date 14 March 1879 (Einstein Website Timeline)
Birth place Ulm, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire
Death date 18 April 1955 (PBS NOVA)
Nationality German (1879–1896, 1914–1933), Swiss (1901–1955), American (1940–1955)
Known for Theory of relativity, photoelectric effect, mass–energy equivalence
Awards Nobel Prize in Physics (1921), Copley Medal (1925), Max Planck Medal (1929)
Spouses Mileva Marić (m. 1903; div. 1919), Elsa Einstein (m. 1919; died 1936)
Children Lieserl, Hans Albert, Eduard

The pattern across these details: Einstein’s life was marked by constant movement across borders and disciplines, a trait that both enabled and complicated his work.

What is Albert Einstein famous for?

Theory of relativity

  • Special relativity (1905) introduced the idea that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and that the speed of light is constant (PBS NOVA).
  • General relativity (1915) extended this to include gravity as a curvature of spacetime, a prediction later confirmed by observations of light bending during a solar eclipse.

E=mc²

The mass–energy equivalence formula emerged from his 1905 paper on special relativity and remains the world’s most famous equation. It underpins everything from nuclear energy to particle physics.

Nobel Prize in Physics

Contrary to popular belief, Einstein won the 1921 Nobel Prize not for relativity but for his discovery of the photoelectric effect (PBS NOVA). The prize was awarded in 1922.

Photoelectric effect

His paper on the photoelectric effect proposed that light behaves as discrete particles (photons), a key contribution to quantum theory. This earned him his Nobel Prize.

Unified field theory

Einstein spent the last three decades of his life attempting to unify electromagnetism and gravity into a single framework. He never succeeded, but the quest continues in modern string theory.

The trade-off

Einstein’s fame rests on relativity, but his Nobel Prize came from the photoelectric effect—a reminder that his genius defies simple categorization. For students of physics, the lesson is: keep multiple threads alive.

Bottom line: Einstein is famous for theories that transformed physics, yet his Nobel-winning work was separate from relativity.

What was Einstein’s IQ level?

Estimates of his IQ

No official IQ test was ever administered to Einstein. Estimates from psychologists range from 160 to 190, but these are retrospective projections based on his achievements and cognitive style. Without a real score, the numbers are speculative.

No official test

Einstein never sat for an IQ test. The tests we use today were still being developed during his lifetime and were not standardised for adults of exceptional ability.

Post-mortem brain studies

After his death in 1955, Einstein’s brain was removed and preserved (without his prior consent) by pathologist Thomas Stoltz Harvey. Subsequent studies found unusual features: a larger-than-average parietal lobe, which is linked to mathematical reasoning, and a missing Sylvian fissure. However, the brain’s connection to IQ remains unclear.

ADHD speculation

In recent years, some have suggested Einstein may have had ADHD, citing his daydreaming in school and difficulty with structured lessons. But this is posthumous conjecture. No medical records support a diagnosis, and experts emphasise that creative distraction is not a clinical condition.

Why this matters

For parents of bright but inattentive children, the Einstein-ADHD myth can offer false comfort. The reality is that Einstein’s early intellectual restlessness was channelled into independent study, not remedied by therapy.

Bottom line: Einstein’s IQ is unknown; the numbers are estimates. The ADHD link is speculation. Neither definition helps understand his actual cognitive process.

What happened to Albert Einstein as a child?

Birth and family background

Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879 in Ulm, Germany, to Jewish parents Hermann and Pauline Einstein (Einstein Website Timeline). The family moved to Munich in 1880.

Speech delay

Einstein did not speak until the age of three or four. His parents reportedly consulted a doctor, and the family maid nicknamed him “der Depperte” (the dopey one). He eventually spoke in full sentences, but the delay is often cited as a sign of his unique wiring.

Early education

  • From 1885 to 1888 he attended a Catholic school in Munich (DIPC Timeline).
  • He then attended the Luitpold Gymnasium from 1889 to 1894 (DIPC Timeline).
  • He struggled with the rigid, authoritarian teaching style and later described it as a form of psychological oppression.

Move to Switzerland

In 1894, Einstein’s family moved to Milan for business, leaving him behind to finish school. He soon left the Gymnasium without a diploma and joined his family in Italy. In 1895 he attempted the entrance exam for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich; he passed the math and physics sections but failed the general part. He spent a year at a cantonal school in Aarau, where he thrived, before enrolling at ETH in 1896 (PBS NOVA).

The catch

The story of Einstein as a “bad student” is a myth. He was an excellent student in subjects he cared about; he only resisted the rote memorisation of the German system.

How many wives did Einstein have?

First marriage to Mileva Marić

Einstein married Mileva Marić, a fellow physicist, in 1903. Mileva was the only woman in his class at ETH and collaborated on some of his early work, though her exact contribution is debated. The marriage produced three children: Lieserl (who died in infancy or was given up for adoption), Hans Albert (who became a hydraulic engineer), and Eduard (who was diagnosed with schizophrenia). The couple divorced in 1919 (Einstein Website Timeline).

Second marriage to Elsa Einstein

Einstein married his cousin Elsa Löwenthal (née Einstein) later in 1919. Elsa was a widow with two daughters, Margot and Ilse, whom Einstein helped raise. The marriage lasted until her death in 1936. Elsa managed his household and public life, especially after their move to the United States.

Children

Einstein had three biological children: Lieserl (born 1902), Hans Albert (born 1904), and Eduard (born 1910). Lieserl’s fate is uncertain—most records suggest she died of scarlet fever in 1903. Hans Albert became a respected engineer and professor. Eduard, who showed early promise as a medical student, suffered a mental breakdown and spent most of his life in institutions.

The upshot

Einstein’s family life was marked by emotional distance and tragedy. For readers interested in the man behind the science, these personal struggles add a layer of complexity to the myth.

Did Einstein believe in God?

Spinoza’s God

Einstein described his beliefs as pantheistic, following Baruch Spinoza’s concept of a God who reveals Himself in the orderly harmony of nature. He famously said, “I believe in Spinoza’s God who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of all that exists.”

Rejection of a personal God

He explicitly rejected the notion of a personal God who answers prayers or intervenes in human affairs. In a 1954 letter, he wrote, “The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses.”

Famous quotes

  • “God does not play dice with the universe” – his response to the indeterminacy of quantum mechanics, in a 1926 letter to Max Born.
  • “I want to know God’s thoughts; the rest are details.”
  • “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”

These quotes are often misinterpreted as endorsements of a personal deity; in context, they reflect his reverence for the empirical order of the cosmos.

“I believe in Spinoza’s God who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of all that exists.”

— Albert Einstein, interview with George Sylvester Viereck, 1929

Bottom line: Einstein was not an atheist, but he did not believe in a personal God. His religion was cosmic harmony, not divine intervention.

When and how did Albert Einstein die?

Cause of death

Einstein died on 18 April 1955 at Princeton Hospital in New Jersey. The cause was a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (PBS NOVA). He had refused surgery, telling his doctors, “I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share; it is time to go.”

Last years

After fleeing Nazi Germany in 1933, Einstein settled at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He became a US citizen in 1940 (PBS NOVA). In his final years, he continued his work on unified field theory, wrote letters opposing nuclear proliferation, and supported civil rights.

Legacy

Einstein’s brain was removed without his prior consent by pathologist Thomas Harvey. It was studied for decades, yielding clues about the anatomical basis of genius but also ethical controversy. His body was cremated and his ashes scattered in an undisclosed location.

“I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share; it is time to go.”

— Albert Einstein, to his doctors, April 1955

What to watch

Einstein’s death raises questions about patient autonomy and the ethics of preserving a brain without consent. For medical students, it remains a cautionary tale.

Confirmed facts

  • Born 14 March 1879 in Ulm
  • Married Mileva Marić in 1903
  • Published special relativity in 1905
  • Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics 1921
  • Emigrated to United States in 1933
  • Died 18 April 1955 from aortic aneurysm

What’s unclear

  • Exact IQ (no test taken; estimates vary)
  • Whether he had ADHD (posthumous speculation)
  • Some quotes are misattributed
  • Exact details of his religious beliefs (often misinterpreted)

Key quotes

“The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility.”

— Albert Einstein, Caltech commencement speech, 1931

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”

— Albert Einstein, attributed, letter to Dr. J. E. Switzer, 1952

“God does not play dice with the universe.”

— Albert Einstein, letter to Max Born, 1926

The portrait of Einstein that emerges is more nuanced than the popular genius caricature. He was a late talker, a resistant student, a flawed husband, and a man who wrestled with God and politics. For anyone tempted to reduce him to a formula, the implication is clear: the man was as complex as his theories.

Additional sources

askfilo.com, scribd.com, en.wikipedia.org

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Frequently asked questions

What did Einstein say about idiots?

Einstein is widely quoted as saying, “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” The quote is widely attributed to him, though its exact origin is debated among scholars.

Did Einstein play the violin?

Yes, he was an accomplished amateur violinist. He played Mozart and Schubert and often used music as a way to relax and think through problems.

What is the Einstein refrigerator?

In 1926, Einstein and former student Leo Szilard patented a refrigerator that used a heat pump rather than moving parts. It never went into mass production, but the idea influenced later designs.

Why did Einstein’s first marriage end?

The marriage with Mileva Marić deteriorated due to personal and intellectual differences, partly exacerbated by Einstein’s affair with his cousin Elsa. Mileva also struggled with depression after Eduard’s diagnosis. They divorced in 1919.

What is the Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox?

The EPR paradox, published in 1935, argued that quantum mechanics was incomplete because it allowed for “spooky action at a distance.” It remains a key topic in quantum foundations.

Did Einstein have any siblings?

Yes, a younger sister named Maja (Maria) Einstein, born in 1881. She later moved to Italy and helped manage the household during Einstein’s years in Berlin.

What was Einstein’s height?

Einstein was around 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in). He was not unusually tall or short, contrary to some images that exaggerate his stature.

What is the most famous Einstein quote?

“Imagination is more important than knowledge” is one of his most repeated lines, reflecting his belief in creative thinking over rote learning.

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