A pair of glasses, a high-paying job, a way with words – or maybe just the right combination of genetics. Is intelligence entirely in the eye of the beholder? Is brain power something you’re born with, or something you earn through years of hard work? And does it matter either way?

RiseGuide surveyed 3,000 Gen Zers, millennials, and Gen Xers to find out how they perceive intelligence, what it takes to earn intellectual respect, and whether smarts guarantees success.

Key takeaways:

• Across all generations, 73% of people agree that confident speech and an advanced vocabulary are the clearest signs of intelligence.
• 66% of Gen Zers, 55% of millennials, and 53% of Gen Xers believe they appear smart to others. However, 42% of Gen Xers and 33% of millennials say their intelligence hasn't led to success.
• 37% of Gen Zers believe intelligence matters most in life, while millennials (42%) and Gen Xers (49%) value discipline more.
• 67% of millennials, 57% of Gen Xers, and 56% of Gen Zers agree that intelligence is both genetic and learned.

Smart stereotypes: How each generation judges intelligence

Think fast – you don't have long to make an impression. Some 58% of Gen Xers and 54% of millennials judge intelligence after a short conversation, and 12% and 13% within the first minute.

Wisely, however, 39% of Gen Zers wait until they truly get to know someone before they pass judgment.

For 27% of Gen Zers, the smartest person in the room is probably the one telling the darkest jokes, while 24% say an intellectual aesthetic – a pair of glasses and a minimalist style – is enough to convince them. Likewise, for 17% of millennials, a degree from a prestigious university shows brains.

However, your wit and wardrobe will only get you so far. Nobody will recognize your intellect if you can't hold a conversation. For all generations, the clearest signs of intelligence are confident speech, a wide vocabulary (73%), and stable eye contact (42%).

Words can make a strong first impression – but don’t overuse them. According to 34% of Gen Zers, talking too much is an instant sign of low intelligence. Likewise, 32% associate obsessing over status, brands, and aesthetics with unintelligence.

For millennials, however? It’s Taylor Swift, true crime, and TikTok trends they judge most, with 32% viewing an obsession with pop culture as enough to write off someone’s intellect.

Brains & self-belief: How highly does each generation rate its IQ?

Gen Z’s giving resting genius face – 66% believe they exude intelligence. Millennials (55%) and Gen Xers (53%), on the other hand, are a little more modest.

However, the young generation isn’t always so self-assured, with 10% convinced they don’t come across as smart to others, more than any other generation.

Return on Intelligence: Do brains pay the bills?

With a few more decades of experience under their belts, Gen Xers are most likely to describe themselves as smart. However, 42% admit their intelligence hasn’t exactly paid off.

In contrast, Gen Z – full of youthful confidence – have seemingly put their big brains to work, with 64% describing themselves as both smart and successful.

Even when intelligence does pay the bills, it can come at a high price – 38% of millennials say it takes a toll on their mental health, 25% of Gen Zers admit it weighs on their happiness, and 25% of Gen Xers admit it makes dating difficult.

Yet, 37% of Gen Zers wouldn’t give up their brains for anything, insisting there’s nothing more important in life. However, 49% of Gen Xers and 42% of millennials say discipline – the drive to keep learning, growing, and getting ahead – matters far more.

Because, regardless of the brain power you’re born with, hard work can make you the brightest spark in the room – with 67% of millennials, 57% of Gen Xers, and 56% of Gen Zers in agreement that intelligence is both genetic and learned.