Is Bill Gates the smartest man in the world?

[Robin3]

It's often said that Bill Gates is super smart. He's also on-and-off, the richest man in the world in terms of earned wealth.

Is he so rich because he's so smart? Does he really have such a vast intelligence, that he sees exactly what to do while the rest of us scurry around trying to make it?

[NickThompson]

I'd say he is probably very smart.

[Expletive Deleted]

Depends on how we're defining "smart."

I mean, it's not as if Gates actually wrote any of the operating systems he's made his billions from.

I'd go with Stephen Hawking, myself.

[SoulOnIce]

It's often said that Bill Gates is super smart. He's also on-and-off, the richest man in the world in terms of earned wealth.

Is he so rich because he's so smart? Does he really have such a vast intelligence, that he sees exactly what to do while the rest of us scurry around trying to make it?

Not sure about smartest but definitely one of the most generous.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-11-21-big-gates-charity-total_x.htm

[PatrickG]

My theory is that the world's most successful people are generally fairly bright. About on par with a high B student. And they have to be very savvy and dedicated, even if their product isn't the ABSOLUTE best. Their dedication and drive is what makes them really admirable.

Generally, stupid people never QUITE reach the top because the things they say and do eventually reveal their stupidity. And very smart people never reach the top because of psychological abnormalities or because they get distracted by shiny objects.

The smartest people in computing are probably in a crappy apartment with the case off their computer and making six figures ASSUMING they have people skills.

The dumbest people in computing are probably also making six figures and struggling to program their VCR.

The average person in computing is probably making $20 an hour at a thankless tech support job.

And those people who are slightly above average are the ones with millions. The difference being, of all these, they have the most drive, experience and people skills. They may even be manic depressive but they know how to analyze systems and they can sell ice to eskimos.

I think the same is true of most fields.

Bright people on top. Average people and idiots arbitrarily tied for second. Geniuses end up at the fringe of the field and never quite make it to the top. But if they're lucky, they're second or third tier in many fields.

[stealthwise]

My theory is that the world's most successful people are generally fairly bright. About on par with a high B student.

If I've learned anything from five and a half years of university, including some teaching and marking, it's that the high B students are often not even "fairly bright". :)

[Tenacious N]

Bill Gates nees to shave his head bald Lex Luthor style.

[Cam63]

No. The $5 haircut look suits him.

[Dennis]

yes, he's super smart. people who run companies tend to be damn smart. i think many people tend to think that luck separates the winners from the losers. not true. there's a huge gap - skills, intelligence, drive...winners have all that and losers may only have one good quality, or none at all.

[Noah Johnson]

Actually, on some metrics, Bill Gates is retarded. He has a very hard time relating to or understanding other people, which actually helps his competitive drive as he is lacking in empathy.

Intelligence is not one thing, you know.

[PatrickG]

yes, he's super smart. people who run companies tend to be damn smart. i think many people tend to think that luck separates the winners from the losers. not true. there's a huge gap - skills, intelligence, drive...winners have all that and losers may only have one good quality, or none at all.

Didn't Sean Connery more or less say the same thing in "The Rock"? Only with some profanity tossed in?

[Dennis]

Actually, on some metrics, Bill Gates is retarded. He has a very hard time relating to or understanding other people, which actually helps his competitive drive as he is lacking in empathy.

Intelligence is not one thing, you know.

yeah, he might have asperbergers or something. there's the argument that all nerds are kinda autistic.

[Cam63]

He's human. I'm pretty sure of that.

[NickThompson]

Didn't Sean Connery more or less say the same thing in "The Rock"? Only with some profanity tossed in?
"Your besht? Loshers always whine about their besht, winnersh go home and _____ the prom queen"? :)

[The Xenos]

I dunno about smart, but he's jsut so sexy and.. *sigh* such a dreamboat...

http://www.mac-fuerth.de/mac-fuerth/bildchen/bill_gates_sexy.jpg

Yes, you can shoot me in the head now,
-Xenos

[PatrickG]

Amen!
http://gallery.zquack.net/albums/userpics/10001/gatesapple.jpg

http://members.fortunecity.com/pcmuseum/sofa-bill.jpg

http://www.brandmalaysia.com/movabletype/archives/bill_gates_motel_scene.jpg

[Cam63]

That's a side of Gates I never knew existed.

[Messchird]

Who knows? There might be smarter people out there that we don't know about...

[Magneto_X]

Gates is just a cunning and ruthless CEO, who somehow managed to use Sun Tsu (sp?) Art Of War in business.

The smartest man in the world is Stephen Hawking.