Crazy bullshit
Physicist Albert Einstein failed maths during his school years.
Spread on: Newspapers, TV shows, Facebook, Reddit and X, since at least the 1920s
The real story
This myth has survived about a century, turning up in newspapers and even TV sitcoms. A study of historical records found it is false, and Einstein himself reportedly called the story completely distorted. It lives on because it is comforting, not because it is true.
The fact-checker's verdict: “False”. Our label never goes further than theirs.
How to spot it
'Even geniuses failed' stories feel good, which is exactly why they spread; feeling good is not evidence.
The receipts
Did Einstein fail math? Claim doesn't add up ↗
Snopes · 2026-11-05
