How smart was the Unabomber?

How smart was the Unabomber?
Ted Kaczynski (1942-2023), infamously known as the Unabomber, remains one of the most intriguing and controversial figures in American criminal history. A mathematical prodigy turned domestic terrorist, Kaczynski’s story represents a complex intersection of brilliant intellect and destructive ideology. His death by suicide in prison on June 10, 2023, reignited public interest in understanding the mind behind the manifesto.

Before becoming the Unabomber, Kaczynski demonstrated exceptional academic prowess. He entered Harvard University at age 16 and later became the youngest assistant professor at UC Berkeley at age 25. However, he eventually abandoned his promising academic career to pursue an isolated, primitive lifestyle in rural Montana. It was during this period that he began his bombing campaign and authored his infamous manifesto, “Industrial Society and Its Future,” which presented a radical critique of modern technology and industrialization.

The question of Kaczynski’s intelligence has been a subject of considerable speculation, with various sources citing different IQ scores. While a commonly quoted figure is 167, this number likely stems from childhood testing using different scoring methodologies. The most reliable assessment of his intelligence comes from a formal evaluation using the Weschler’s Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised, administered by a federal psychiatrist during his trial. This test revealed an overall IQ of 136, with a Verbal Score of 138 and a Performance Score of 124. These scores place him in the moderately gifted range, approximately in the top 1% of the population (or roughly 1 in 122 people).

What makes Kaczynski’s case particularly fascinating is how someone with such intellectual capabilities chose to channel their gifts toward destructive ends. His mathematical brilliance and analytical mind were evident in his writings, yet these same abilities were used to orchestrate a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others. Ultimately, it was his own writing that led to his capture when his brother recognized the linguistic style of his manifesto.

If you wish to see his full psychological report, you can find it here.

If you wish to take a FREE IQ test, you can find it here.