A Brilliant Brain

The 100 Most Brilliant Minds of Recorded History

A worldwide contest to identify and rank the most brilliant individuals across 5,000 years of recorded history. Each mind is scored on two dimensions: Brilliance (raw intellectual or creative contribution) and Stewardship (faithfulness to the gifts given). The Composite Index is their product.

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Top 20 Brilliant Minds

#1 Nikola Tesla

1856–1943 — Serbia/USA

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 10/10 | Index: 100

He lit the world and died in the dark.

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#2 Solomon

c. 970–931 BC — Israel

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Index: 90

He asked for wisdom. He received everything.

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#3 Johann Sebastian Bach

1685–1750 — Germany

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Index: 90

Soli Deo Gloria.

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#4 Marie Curie

1867–1934 — Poland/France

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Index: 90

She refused to patent the process that killed her.

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#5 Michael Faraday

1791–1867 — England

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Index: 90

A bookbinder's apprentice who harnessed lightning.

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#6 Louis Pasteur

1822–1895 — France

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Index: 90

Fortune favors the prepared mind.

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#7 Blaise Pascal

1623–1662 — France

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Index: 90

He built the first computer, then gave everything away.

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#8 Jesus Christ (Jesus of Nazareth)

c. 4 BC – c. AD 30/33 — Roman Judea (modern-day Israel/Palestine)

Brilliance: 9/10 | Stewardship: 10/10 | Index: 90

A humble carpenter whose radical message of love, justice, and forgiveness reshaped civilization and inspired billions.

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#9 George Washington Carver

1864–1943 — USA

Brilliance: 9/10 | Stewardship: 10/10 | Index: 90

God gave them to me. How can I sell them?

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#10 Daniel

c. 620–538 BC — Babylon/Israel

Brilliance: 9/10 | Stewardship: 10/10 | Index: 90

Integrity through every empire.

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#11 Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama)

c. 563–483 BC — India/Nepal

Brilliance: 9/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Index: 81

He left a palace to understand suffering.

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#12 Norman Borlaug

1914–2009 — USA

Brilliance: 9/10 | Stewardship: 9/10 | Index: 81

The Green Revolution. He saved a billion people from famine. A billion.

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#13 Augustine of Hippo

354–430 AD — North Africa

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 8/10 | Index: 80

From hedonist to the most influential theologian in Western history.

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#14 Johannes Kepler

1571–1630 — Germany

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 8/10 | Index: 80

He heard the music of the spheres.

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#15 Grigori Perelman

1966– — Russia

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 8/10 | Index: 80

Proved the Poincaré conjecture. Declined the $1 million prize and the Fields Medal.

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#16 Socrates

469–399 BC — Greece

Brilliance: 10/10 | Stewardship: 8/10 | Index: 80

He knew that he knew nothing. They killed him for it.

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#17 Abraham

c. 2000 BC — Mesopotamia/Canaan

Brilliance: 8/10 | Stewardship: 10/10 | Index: 80

He left everything on a promise.

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#18 Martin Luther King Jr.

1929–1968 — USA

Brilliance: 8/10 | Stewardship: 10/10 | Index: 80

I have a dream. He paid with his life.

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#19 Abraham Lincoln

1809–1865 — USA

Brilliance: 8/10 | Stewardship: 10/10 | Index: 80

Self-educated. Preserved the Union. Freed the enslaved. Assassinated.

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#20 William Wilberforce

1759–1833 — England

Brilliance: 8/10 | Stewardship: 10/10 | Index: 80

46 years. One cause. He won.

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