How Much Do You Know About the Famed Physicist? 

We’ve all seen the hilarious photo of Einstein sticking his tongue out. We all know he was gifted in math and science. But did you know of his famous friendships, illegitimate children, and the FBI’s dossier on him? We didn’t think so! Come with us as we share some ill-known facts about one of the world’s greatest minds. 

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1. He Looked a Little Strange

We’re not talking about his infamous hairstyle—we’re talking about his appearance right out of the gate. His mother and grandmother both frequently commented on the misshapen size of his head and excess body fat. That’s one way to make an entrance.  

Archivo General de la Nación on Wikimedia Commons

2. He Was a Gifted Student

Rumors flew that Einstein wasn’t a good student but that’s a myth. Though he struggled with some subjects, he was incredibly gifted in math and science and earned top grades in algebra, geometry, and physics. 

Los Angeles Times on Wikimedia Commons

3. But Struggled With Language

That said, he did struggle with language—both the written word and communication. He first learned to talk when he was two years old (though some reports claim it was even later), and he even failed the language and history sections of his Swiss Federal Institute of Technology entrance exam. 

Museum Boerhaave on Wikimedia Commons

4. He Couldn’t Get a Job

You’d think an excellent student could land a job without issue—but think again. For years, Einstein couldn’t find work in academia, instead settling for employment in a Swiss patent office. 

Smithsonian Institution on Wikimedia Commons

5. He Published Multiple Famous Papers in One Year

The good thing about that job was it allowed Einstein to focus on his passions. He published four successful papers in 1905, an accomplishment so impressive people call it his “miracle year.” In fact, those papers are what helped get his name on the board. 

Ferdinand Schmutzer on Wikimedia

6. He Loved Writing to Children

Speaking of writing, Einstein loved sending letters to children later in his career. They’d often write to him asking what he looked like or if he, too, struggled with math. Several books detail the adorable correspondence he kept with them. 

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7. He Was a Good Musician

Einstein’s talents didn’t stop at education. His journal entries mentioned an early love of music, stating that if he wasn’t a physician, he’d be a musician. He learned to play the violin around age five and developed an appreciation of Mozart’s compositions at the age of 13. 

Wanda von Debschitz-Kunowski on Wikimedia Commons

8. No One Actually Knows His IQ

Though his IQ is widely accepted as 160, some outlandish reports claim it soared far past that. Despite what you read, no one actually knows the number. There’s no proof he was ever even given an IQ test. 

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9. He Wasn’t a Socks Guy 

We all hate holes in our socks, but Einstein took it a step further—he simply refused to wear them. To avoid the dreaded big toe poking through, he forwent them in childhood and often bragged about his decision while teaching at Oxford. 

Doris Ulmann on Wikimedia

10. He Was a Man of Peace

Einstein denounced war, writing that it was “a disease,” and often expressed regret for his role in the United States’ decision to develop atom bombs. It was a big enough regret that in 1955 he and a handful of other scientists signed a manifesto talking about the dangers of nuclear weapons. 

Harris & Ewing Studio on Wikimedia Commons

11. He Knew Charlie Chaplin

Of course, Einstein wasn’t the only pacifist back in his day. It was his worldview that actually led to a friendship with famed actor Charlie Chaplin. The pair formed a pretty quick bond and Chaplin himself said that Einstein was a calm and gentle man. 

Photoplay Publishing on Wikmedia Commons

12. He Switched to Vegetarianism 

The next time you talk about vegetarianism, let people know Einstein probably would’ve agreed with you! He didn’t really believe we should be meat-eaters and made the switch completely later in life. 

Orren Jack Turner on Wikimedia Commons

13. He Was Once Asked to be President of Israel 

Believe it or not, Einstein turned down a presidential role in 1952. After Chaim Weizmann passed away, Israel’s prime minister wrote to Einstein asking if he’d step in. Thankfully, our beloved scientist knew his strengths and a country’s leadership wasn’t one of them. He respectfully declined.

Andrys on Pixabay

14. The FBI Kept Tabs on Him

As it turns out, being actively against racism and nuclear weapons attracts the wrong kind of attention. J. Edgar Hoover quickly questioned Einstein’s outspoken nature and sent the FBI to track him. When all was said and done, the organization had over 1,400 pages on him. 

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15. He Was a Member of the NAACP

Bigotry is alive and well today, but 1950s racism was another monster entirely. Einstein knew it too, which is exactly why he rallied behind the NAACP. His involvement helped quite a bit as well—after offering to be a character witness for W. E. B. Du Bois, the judge dropped a bogus case against him. 

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16. There Was a Bounty on His Head

Antisemitism rose in the 1930s and Einstein soon became its victim, forced out of official positions along with other Jewish people at the time. German physicists spoke ill of his work and tried to denounce his credibility, and some German magazines even offered $5,000 for his life.  

Al. Aumuller on Wikimedia Commons

17. He Inspired Yoda

The more we think about it, the more sense this makes! Special effects artist Stuart Freeborn brought Yoda’s initial design to life, taking inspo from a photo of Einstein he had in his studio. In the end, Einstein’s crow's feet made it into the final look, as did Freeborn’s own likeness.

Ribastank on Pixabay

18. He Fathered an Illegitimate Daughter

Back in the early 1900s, you really didn’t want illegitimate children attached to your name. For years, he succeeded in keeping her a secret—it wasn’t until the ‘80s that record of little Lieserl Einstein was even discovered. She was born in 1902 and apparently lost her life in 1903 from scarlet fever. 

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19. No One Knows What His Last Words Were

People have speculated about Einstein’s last words, some even claiming they know what they are…but no one really does. In his final moments, he spoke to the nurse in German but she didn’t speak the language and couldn’t tell what he said.  

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20. His Brain and Eyes Were Stolen

Pathologist Thomas Harvey conducted Einstein’s autopsy, a process that took several months. Why, you ask? Because Harvey sectioned and preserved 170 pieces of the brain, keeping two for himself without permission from Einstein’s family or knowledge. Oddly enough, his family okayed the study once they were made aware but told Harvey he was to publish his findings in legitimate scientific journals. 

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