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Head-to-Head Comparison

Bill Gates vs Thomas Aquinas

Bill Gates (IQ 160) vs Thomas Aquinas (IQ 170). Side-by-side comparison of intellect, achievements, era and cultural impact.

Bill Gates
b. 1955 · US
160
Estimated IQ
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Thomas Aquinas
1225–1274 · IT
170
Estimated IQ
Read full biography →
Born19551225
Died1274
CountryUSIT
Estimated IQ 160 170
Best known forCo-founding Microsoft

Who had the higher IQ?

By the most cited estimates, Thomas Aquinas tops this matchup with an estimated IQ of 170, a 10-point margin over Bill Gates (160). IQ estimates for historical figures are reconstructions, not test results — they sit on top of biographical evidence, productivity, and the difficulty of the problems each person solved. Treat the number as a directional signal, not a verdict.

Achievements compared

Bill Gates is best known for: Co-founding Microsoft Thomas Aquinas is best known for: —

Recognition. Bill Gates: New York Institute of Technology's President's Medal • The Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry • The Placard of the Order of the Aztec Eagle • Bower Award for Business Leadership • The Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged • The Padma Bhushan, India's third-hi. Thomas Aquinas: —.

Different eras, different boards

The two were born roughly 730 years apart (1955 vs 1225), which matters: scientific tools, available knowledge, and intellectual culture compound. Comparing minds across eras is comparing players on different boards.

The verdict

So who was greater? The honest answer: they're not strictly comparable. By raw IQ proxy, Thomas Aquinas edges out. By measurable, lasting influence in their respective field, both are anchors of the human record. If you have to pick one to bet civilization on, pick the one working on the problem you care about.

Frequently Asked

Who had the higher IQ, Bill Gates or Thomas Aquinas?
Estimated IQs are 160 for Bill Gates and 170 for Thomas Aquinas. Thomas Aquinas rates higher by 10 points. Historical IQ figures are reconstructions, not measured scores.
What is Bill Gates most famous for?
Co-founding Microsoft
What is Thomas Aquinas most famous for?
Did Bill Gates and Thomas Aquinas ever meet?
They were contemporaries, though there is no documented direct meeting in our sources.

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