The concept of intelligence has always been subjective, and it's challenging to determine who the smartest person on the planet is. However, one person who is often considered as the most intelligent man on the planet is William James Sidis.
Born in 1898, Sidis was a child prodigy who gained fame for his extraordinary intellect, with an IQ estimated to be between 250-300. At the age of six, he taught himself to read several different languages, including Latin, Greek, Russian, and French. By age eight, Sidis had already completed high school, and he enrolled at Harvard University as a student at the age of 11.
Sidis's life was fraught with controversy, however. His father, Boris Sidis, pushed him to succeed, but the intense pressure to excel led to a breakdown in their relationship. Sidis's brilliance did not translate into success in his later years and, despite several attempts to start a career, he spent most of his life as a reclusive, working primarily odd jobs.
While Sidis is often considered as the most intelligent man on the planet, there have been several other people whose IQ levels were close, and their areas of expertise varied. For example, Russian mathematician Grigori Perelman's IQ was estimated to be around 230-250, and his achievements included solving one of the world's most profound mathematical problems.
In conclusion, intelligence is a multifaceted trait that
cannot be accurately attributed to a single individual. While Sidis and others
like him have shown exceptional cognitive abilities, the most intelligent
person on the planet may never be known or recognized.