History Main / WorldsSmartestMan

Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease While there are certain real-life figures such as UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Creator/StephenHawking who are commonly cited as such, they are only to mentioned for InUniverse examples only.

* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', L is at least this in the field of criminology, being the unrivaled "World's Greatest Detective" (and secretly the second and third greatest too). It wasn't until he met Light Yagami was he able to find an intellectual equal. WordOfGod conflictingly gives Light a higher intelligence rank than L, while also stating that L is the smartest character because the plot requires it.

** Other contenders for Marvel's top ten smartest minds include: [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]], [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]], [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Amadeus Cho]], [[ComicBook/XMen Hank McCoy, Apocalypse]], and [[ComicBook/BlackPanther T'Challa]]. At one point there was an established hierarchy with Amadeus frequently describing himself as the world's seventh smartest person (although it was suggested that the return of the real Hank Pym dropped him to eighth).

* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': Professor Ludwig von Drake is an OmnidisciplinaryScientist who has degrees in every science field imaginable (and in some unimaginable). He's often considered to be the smartest person alive, although he's sometimes challenged by others who want that title)

* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': Professor Ludwig von Drake is an OmnidisciplinaryScientist who has degrees in every science field imaginable (and in some unimaginable). He's often considers to be the smartest person alive (although sometimes challenged by others who want that title).

** While [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]] isn't introduced in the main timeline of the movies yet, ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'' features a version of the character, part of the team called the "[[Characters/MarvelComicsTheIlluminati Illuminati]]", who [[spoiler:Baron Mordo]] introduces as "the smartest man alive" of this universe.

* In the ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse'', Lex Luthor is once again considered the smartest man on Earth, which Batman himself recognizes. In the ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'' episode "Destroyer", Lex intends to journey into the Source Wall, where he is warned only a "twelfth level intellect" could survive. Lex states he's "overqualified" and he indeed survives and retrieves what he's after.

* Rick Sanchez from ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' is said to be the smartest man in the universe, which manifests in him being an ImpossibleGenius variant of MadScientist. This serves as a plot point in Season 5 where it's revealed the Council of Ricks intentionally made this happen by creating the Central Finite Curve, described as a wall around reality where the dimensions where Rick is the smartest man in the universe are sealed off from the rest of the Multiverse where he isn’t.

Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease While there are certain real life figures such as UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein and Creator/StephenHawking who are commonly cited as such, they are only to mentioned for InUniverse examples only.

* In ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'', Dr. Genus is implied to be this. His intellect was so advanced that he soon became disillusioned with the rest of humanity and could find no one else able to keep up with his level of thinking. He soon came to believe humanity was too far behind him and sought to help the human race evolve so that he would no longer be alone.
* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' has Nezu, whose Quirk, "High-Specs", does not merely give him SuperIntelligence, but makes him smarter than any human on Earth, to the point that he's easily able to calculate the precise angles and velocities required to perform DisasterDominoes with a wrecking ball. He's also in charge of the most esteemed hero school in Japan and his official ratings give him a [[BrokeTheRatingScale 6/5 in intelligence.]]
* In ''Manga/DrStone'', Senku is a high-schooler who wakes up 3700 years after [[ApocalypseHow all of humanity was turned to stone]] and immediately starts using his vast scientific knowledge to re-discover everything from metalworking, agriculture and sailing to telephones, radar, and even ''soda pop'', all while trying to find a way to undo the petrification process and save humanity.

*** Reed's ArchNemesis, Doctor Doom, is the other contender for this title. Even when he isn't, Doom will be repeatedly trying to prove himself worthy of this claim but tends to get foiled by Reed ([[TooCleverByHalf or just as often his own ego]], but he'll [[NeverMyFault still blame Reed]]).

* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': Lex Luthor typically holds the title of smartest human in Franchise/TheDCU, with no one being his intellectual equal. The only one that Lex considers to be in his league is the extraterrestrial being Brainiac who possesses SuperIntelligence. Lex is only held back by his incredible arrogance and all-consuming hatred of Superman, which usually makes him overlook something and allow Superman or others to beat him.
* Michael Holt, aka the second ComicBook/MisterTerrific, is often called "the third smartest man" in Franchise/TheDCU, just behind Lex Luthor (as mentioned above) and [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]], whose specialty as a super-genius is being a polymath with [[GeniusesHaveMultiplePhDs multiple Ph.Ds]] and a PhotographicMemory (being [[GeniusBruiser an actual Olympian and multi-disciplined martial artist is an added bonus]]). In his words, he has "a natural aptitude for having natural aptitudes."

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Infidel went from impoverished slave to reality-breaking EvilSorcerer through intense study, has challenged [[TheCape Samaritan]] countless times, ''destroyed reality'' at least once, and is only in a SelfImposedExile because [[IGaveMyWord he promised to do so.]] He once invented a machine to observe superstrings and considered it a mere trifle.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'''s garbage man is sometimes called the smartest man in the world, giving sage advice to Dilbert about both mechanical and philosophical issues and on one occasion bringing him BackFromTheDead at the end of a story arc. Why he retains a job as garbage collector is a mystery that is implied only he can understand.

[[folder:Film]]
* In the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'', for a long time Tony Stark held the honor of "smartest person" in the MCU. In recent years, this has been challenged, however; ''Film/BlackPanther2018'' establishes Princess Shuri is at least on par with him, and ''[[AllThereInTheManual The Wakanda Files]]'' has Shuri note that Hank Pym is perhaps more brilliant than any of them, to the point where she mildly idolizes him for the sophistication of his Pym Particles, which not even a team of Wakanda's crack scientists can figure out.
* ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' once again has Lex Luthor as the holder of this title.
* In ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'', true to the source material, Ozymandias is the world's smartest man, even outranking [[PhysicalGod Doctor Manhattan]] in raw intelligence.

* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', the most intelligent man in the world is Leonard of Quirm, the Disc's version of Creator/LeonardoDaVinci. However, while he's very intelligent and routinely designs game-changing inventions in between his artistic endeavors, he is very much unsuited for normal life (case in point: he once tried to bring Nobby and Colon to the Palace at gunpoint and ''handed them the weapon'' in order to make adjustments to it). He also invariably fails to consider the military applications of his inventions (such as removing mountains or firebombing cities from orbit) and is horrified when other people bring up the possibility, sincerely believing the threat of horrible destruction will be enough to keep people from using them. The Patrician keeps him voluntarily locked up in the Palace and supplied with artistic and engineering supplies as much for his own good as for everyone else's (and he can leave at anytime, having designed the locks himself).

* ''Literature/DocSavage'', in the pulp-world of Street and Smith, is conceded to be this, as well as the WorldsStrongestMan -- the ultimate GeniusBruiser. In the (much) larger Wold Newton universe conceived by Creator/PhilipJoseFarmer, though, his cousins [[Literature/SherlockHolmes Mycroft]], Literature/ProfessorChallenger, and [[Literature/FuManchu "Hanoi Shan"]], to name just three, would beg to differ.

* ''Literature/RamaII'': Each astronaut has listed his or her percentile in terms of intelligence, and they are all above 99%. Among the very top are Francesca Sabatini and Wakefield (two of the most prominent characters).
** "Wakefield's intelligence rating was truly exceptional and placed him in the supergenius category; Nicole had never before personally known someone with such high scores on the standardized tests." Sabatini is ranked higher than Wakefield.

* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Stephen Hawking has been stated InUniverse to be the smartest person in the world and the reason why Sheldon is so keen on becoming friends with him, considering this one of his rare chances to find an intellectual equal.
* In ''Series/TheFlash2014'', WordOfGod states that Clifford [=DeVoe=]/The Thinker is the smartest man on Earth-1, largely due to his metahuman power being SuperIntelligence. He exhibits extremely advanced methodical thinking and is able to plan out things years ahead. He is so thorough in his planning that he's pretty much an InvincibleVillain due to him anticipating everything.
* In ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', in the "Doomworld" reality that the Legion of Doom creates, Eobard Thawne is hailed as the smartest man in the world. He's so highly regarded that he is personal friends with the President of the United States.
* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', Luke Rattigan was a TeenGenius who was able to pull off technological feats centuries ahead of his time. While he isn't directly started to be the smartest, he was unable to find anyone in the world to be his intellectual equal until meeting the Doctor. He was able to invent pocket dimension technology in the 21st century, which the Doctor described like finding a smartphone in the Stone Ages.
* In ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', Eurus Holmes is described by Mycroft as being "an era-defining genius beyond Sir Isaac Newton". Her intellect is so great that anyone who talks to her is able to be 'reprogrammed' to carry out her bidding, with only other geniuses like Sherlock, Mycroft, and Moriarty being immune from this.
* ''Series/LabRats'' has Chase. He's a teen with a bionic chip in his neck. Said chip makes him the smartest man alive.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': Dr. Eggman likes to proclaim himself to be this. Although, given the ridiculously complex, innovative, and varied stuff he's built over the franchise (various mechs, whole bases, robotic machines, etc.), it's hard not to agree with him.

* In ''Franchise/Ben10'':

* In the ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse'', Lex Luthor is once again considered the smartest man on Earth, which Batman himself recognizes. In "Destroyer", Lex intends to journey into the Source Wall, where he is warned only a "twelfth level intellect" could survive. Lex states he's "overqualified" and he indeed survives and retrieves what he's after.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', the episode "Dumbbell Curve" has Timmy wish to be the smartest person in the world, but as this makes him know a lot of unhappy facts, he changes his mind and then requests for everyone to be dumber than him.
* [[ChildProdigy Jimmy Neutron]] from ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' is depicted as the smartest human being in his universe to the point that he can save Earth from an alien invasion.
* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'', one episode has Lilo wish that Keoni becomes the smartest man on earth so that he can impress Naiomi. He ends up so book smart that she can't make sense of what he's saying.

* ''WesternAnimation/MrPeabodyAndSherman'': Mr Peabody is stated to be the smartest being in existence, having impressive feats such as graduating Harvard at age 3 ("Wagna cum Laude"), being a business magnate, inventor, scientist, Nobel laureate, gourmand, and two-time Olympic medalist.

* Literature/RamaII: Each astronaut has listed his or her percentile in terms of intelligence, and they are all above 99%. Among the very top are Francesca Sabatini and Wakefield (two of the most prominent characters).

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Infidel went from impoverished slave to reality-breaking EvilSorcerer through intense study, has challenged [[TheCape Samaritan]] countless times, ''destroyed reality'' at least once, and is only in a SelfImposedExile because [[IGaveMyWord he promised to do so.]]

* Michael Holt, aka the second ComicBook/MisterTerrific, is often called "the third smartest man" in Franchise/TheDCU, just behind Lex Luthor (as mentioned above) and [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]], whose specialty as a super-genius is being a polymath with multiple Ph.Ds and a PhotographicMemory.

* In the ''Literature/{{Lensmen}}'' novel ''Gray Lensman'', Kimball Kinnison at one point needs to find fifty or so of the smartest beings in Civilization for a special scientific project. While consulting with a librarian to select this group, he learns that he has been assigned the highest rating of all. (Though this rating has less to do with academic ability, where he's merely above-average, and more to do with his psychic powers.)

* Rick Sanchez from ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' is said to be the smartest man in the universe, which manifests in him being an ImpossibleGenius MadScientist. This serves as a plot point in Season 5 where it’s revealed the Council of Ricks intentionally made this happen by creating the Central Finite Curve, described as a wall around reality where the dimensions where Rick is the smartest man in the universe we’re sealed off from the rest of the Multiverse where he isn’t.

* Rick Sanchez from ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' is said to be the smartest man in the universe, which manifests in him being an ImpossibleGenius MadScientist.

* In ''Literature/NoGameNoLife'', Sora believes Shiro to be this, seeing her as humanity's potential. She's a ChildProdigy with a computer like mind, able to win 20 consecutive games against a simulation designed to beat grandmasters and compute complex physics equations to pull off AwesomenessByAnalysis. If she didn't have this status in the real world, she certainly does in Disboard, as when she and her brother arrive in this world governed by games, their status as {{Godlike Gamer}}s made them the unbeatable Kings of Imanity.

* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Stephen Hawking had been stated InUniverse to be the smartest person in the world and the reason why Sheldon is so keen on becoming friends with him, considering this one of his rare chances to find an intellectual equal.

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', Luke Rattigan was a TeenGenius who had knowledge that was centuries ahead of his time. While he isn't directly started to be the smartest, he was unable to find anyone in the world to be his intellectual equal until meeting the Doctor. He was able to invent pocket dimension technology in the 21st century, which the Doctor described like finding a smartphone in the Stone Ages.

* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', L is at least this in the field of criminology, being the unrivaled "World's Greatest Detective" (and secretly the second and third greatest too). It wasn't until he met Light Yagami was he able to find an intellectual equal. WordOfGod conflictingly gives Light a higher intelligence rank than L while also stating that L is the smartest character because the plot requires it.

[[TheSmartGuy Some people are smart]], [[ImpossibleGenius some people are geniuses]], then there's that one person who is the unparalleled, unrivaled, era defining prodigy seen once in a lifetime. Congratulations, you've found the World's Smartest Man.

The intellectual counterpart to WorldsStrongestMan. This is the person who is undoubtedly stated to be the brightest mind in their particular world. Though often times there can be multiple contenders of said title, with the runner ups wanting to prove they are truly the ones deserving to be called as such.

Compare TheOmniscient or EnlightenmentSuperpowers for those with vast knowledge rather than merely intelligence.

SubTrope of WorldsBestCharacter, for being that, but only for intelligence.