Mensa was founded to be an intellectual aristocracy, but its creators were quickly disappointed.

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1946 by two barristers, Mensa aimed to unite the world's most intelligent minds in a non-political, round-table society. Yet, the founders soon grew frustrated: one lamented that members spent too much time on puzzles, while the other was dismayed that the group lacked the elite social standing he envisioned.

Mensa International, the world's oldest and largest high-IQ society, was established at Lincoln College in Oxford by Roland Berrill and Lancelot Ware. The name, derived from the Latin word for 'table,' was chosen to symbolize a gathering of equals. Despite its lofty origins, the organization struggled to meet the founders' specific social expectations. Berrill had hoped to cultivate an 'aristocracy of the intellect,' but he was reportedly unhappy that the membership base was largely comprised of working and lower-class individuals. Ware, meanwhile, expressed disappointment that the society’s intellectual potential was frequently funneled into the pursuit of solving puzzles.

Today, membership is open to anyone scoring at or above the 98th percentile on approved standardized intelligence tests, such as the Stanford–Binet or Wechsler scales. With approximately 150,000 members across more than 90 countries, the organization operates through a decentralized structure of national groups. These groups manage their own local chapters, publications, and events, ranging from the American Mensa Mind Games competition to the European Mensa Annual Gathering (EMAG). While the organization maintains a serious focus on intelligence research through the Mensa Research Journal, it also fosters social cohesion through special interest groups that cover everything from entrepreneurship to motorcycling.

The organization’s demographics are as diverse as its activities, with members ranging from toddlers to centenarians. American Mensa, for instance, reports a membership base spanning generations, with Baby Boomers making up the largest cohort at 37 percent. Despite its prestige, the society has occasionally been the subject of satire; the fictional 'Densa'—a portmanteau of 'dense' and 'Mensa'—emerged in the 1970s as a parody of the high-IQ club. Nevertheless, Mensa continues to serve as a global network for the highly gifted, maintaining its status as a unique, non-profit institution dedicated to the study and celebration of human intelligence.

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