INTJ (Introverted INtuitive Thinking Judging) is one of the 16 personality types of the Myers-Briggs personality test.
INTJs are the “Mastermind” personality: intellectual, logical, driven, and confident in their own abilities, but also sometimes cold and unsympathetic, with a tendency to prefer theory over reality. This can cause others to perceive them as arrogant, especially since INTJs frequently lack the patience and communications skills to explain themselves.
Only about 2% of the population is INTJ, but their forceful nature tends to make them influential, so it’s not surprising that many celebrities are INTJ. Here are some examples.
POLITICIANS
Susan B Anthony src
Vladimir Lenin src
Dwight D. Eisenhower src
INTJ politicians tend to be “policy wonks” rather than inspirational leaders.
At least seven US Presidents were INTJs.
- Chester A. Arthur source
- Woodrow Wilson source
- Dwight D. Eisenhower source
- John F. Kennedy source
- Thomas Jefferson source
- James K. Polk source
- Calvin Coolidge source
Other current and historical political INTJs:
- Al Gore, US Senator and Vice President. source
- Colin Powell, US general and secretary of state. source
- Hillary Clinton, US Senator and secretary of state. source
- Donald Rumsfeld, US secretary of defense. source
- Julia Gillard, Australian prime minister. source
- Abigail Adams, US First Lady. source
- Susan B. Anthony, early feminist leader. source
- C. Everett Koop, US surgeon general. source
- Michael Dukakis, governor of Massachusetts and presidential candidate. source: intjcentral.com
- Vladimir Lenin, Russian revolutionary. source
- Augustus Caesar, Emperor of Rome. source
- Hannibal Barca, Carthinagian general. source
ATHLETES
Nick Saban src
Martina Navratilova src
Bobby Fischer src
INTJs aren’t team players but they can excel in individual sports like tennis and golf. They also do well in positions that allow them to use their mental gifts, such as pitching in baseball, and can be successful coaches.
- Lance Armstrong, US cyclist. source: intjcentral.com
- Arthur Ashe, US tennis player. source: intjcentral.com
- Martina Navratilova, Czech/US tennis player. source
- Ivan Lendl, Czech/US tennis player. source
- Orel Hershisher, US pitcher. source
- Bill Belichick, NFL coach. source
- Nick Saban, US coach, University of Alabama. source
- Tom Kite, US golfer. source
- Bobby Fischer, US chess grandmaster. source
SCIENTISTS
Isaac Newton src
Nikola Tesla src
John Nash src
Naturally, the scientific field attracts many INTJs, especially to hard sciences like math and physics.
- Isaac Newton, English physicist. source
- Stephen Hawking, English astrophysicist. source
- Nikola Tesla, Serbian physicist and inventor. source
- Charles Darwin, English biologist.
- John Nash, US mathematician. source
- John Maynard Keynes, US economist. source
- Lise Meitner, Austrian physicist. source: intjcentral.com
- Norbert Wiener, US mathematician. source: intjcentral.com
AUTHORS
Ayn Rand src
William F. Buckley src
Sylvia Plath src
Writing is a solitary and intellectual pursuit, so it also attracts many INTJs.
- Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, English mathematician and author of the Alice in Wonderland books. source: intjcentral.com
- Ayn Rand, US author of Atlas Shrugged and other books. source
- Isaac Asimov, US biochemist and science fiction author. source
- Jane Austen, English author. source
- Sylvia Plath, US poet. source
- H. L. Mencken, US journalist. source
- Emily Bronte, English author. source
- Sun Tzu, Chinese military strategist and author. source
- William F. Buckley, US journalist and author. source
PHILOSOPHERS
Friedrich Nietzsche src
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel src
Martin Luther src
- Friedrich Nietzsche, German author and philosopher. source
- G. W. F. Hegel, German philosopher. source
- Jean-Paul Sartre, French author and philosopher. source
- Heraclitus, ancient Greek philosopher. source
- Martin Luther, German theologian. source
MUSICIANS
Elvis Costello src
Jay-Z src
Ludwig van Beethoven src
INTJs prefer to pursue their own styles and passions, rather than be crowd-pleasers.
- Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer. source
- Glenn Gould, Canadian pianist. source: intjcentral.com
- Erik Satie, French composer and pianist. source: intjcentral.com
- Jay-Z, US rapper, producer, and entrepreneur. source
- Elvis Costello, Irish musician. source
- Roger Waters, English rocker. source
BUSINESS
Elon Musk src
Mark Zuckerberg src
INTJs don’t do well in a traditional corporate environment, but they can be successful innovators and entrepreneurs.
- Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. source
- Elon Musk, founder of PayPal, Space-X, and Tesla Motors. source
ENTERTAINMENT
Dan Aykroyd src
Russell Crowe src
Jodie Foster src
Lack of empathy and communication skills means that few INTJs become actors. Some are more comfortable behind the camera.
- Jodie Foster, US actor, producer, and director. source
- Stanley Kubrick, US director. source
- Dan Aykroyd, Canadian and US actor. source
- Russell Crowe, New Zealand actor. source
- James Cameron, Canadian director. source
CRIMINALS
Anders Breivik src
Meyer Lansky src
Ted Kaczynski src
INTJs are rational enough to know the risks of a criminal life, but some of them end up on the wrong side of the law nevertheless.
- Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. source: intjcentral.com
- Meyer Lansky, US gambler and gangster. source
- Adam Worth, German-American art thief, the “Napoleon of Crime.” source
- Anders Breivik, Norwegian Mass Murderer. source
FICTIONAL CHARACTERS
Sherlock Holmes src
Walter White src
Bruce Wayne src
Fictional INTJs are frequently villains, but they can also be potent heroes as well.
- Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective. source
- Professor Moriarty, Holmes’s opposite, is an INTJ as well. source
- Hannibal Lecter, serial killer. source
- He, too, is opposed by an INTJ, Clarice Starling. source
- Walter White, chemist turned drug dealer. source
- Gus Fring, Walter’s nemesis, is also an example of an INTJ. source
- Dr. Gregory House, pathologist. source
- Light Yagami, high school student and mass murderer. source
- Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. source
- Victor von Frankenstein, scientist. source
List of Famous People With ISFJ Personality
List of Famous People With ISFP Personality
List of Famous People With INFP Personality
List of Famous People With ESTP Personality
Hillary is not a INTJ mastermind – she is way too emotional for that.
It depends on her trait percentages. Most of the women that I’ve met with the thinking trait seem to score 25% or lower. In contrast, I score a 62% while a good friend of mine (male) scored only 1%.
I’d second your opinion on that Lou, I test consistently as an INTJ but my T/F is only 12% which gives me highly developed emotions with pretty wide breadth and depth but the INTJ part of me then goes and applies INTJ logic to emotion and expects emotion to be logical. I’ve got problems and I know it *sings*
I find I most frequently get mistyped as either INFJ or INFP. At first, I accepted these results since they seemed to match well with my actual personality. However, once I delved deeper into typology and learned about the cognitive function theory, I could not relate to either very well anymore. I became confused since I was sure that no matter what, I am an Introverted iNtuitive Feeler. I considered INTJ, but dismissed it at the time since they are always portrayed as being detached and purely analytical. I could not relate to that. All that changed when I read about loops and how the tertiary function develops before the auxiliary due to its shared orientation with the dominant. An INTJ’s functions are Ni, Te, Fi, and Se, and I was able to find that my Ni and Fi were about equal in strength while my Te was in a bit of neglect. Now, I know the reason why I become depressed when I have no goals or control over my life- it is the result of turning to Fi when Te stays stagnant.
My advice for anyone in a similar situation is to prioritize Te more again. It is essential for personal fulfillment and will actually help lower functions Fi and Se become used in much healthier ways.
ive had that exact experience. i tryed for ages to develop fe stubbornly thinking i was infj since it became more clear i was a judgement preference. i of course failed alot with this blindspot and it has made me apriciate all the types for there specific skills.
I have tested at 62% thinking for years and years, and have never tested as anything other than an INTJ. Hillary is NOT an INTJ. Period. I would bet my IQ on it. She may “claim” to be an INTJ when it suits her, but she is not.
I wholeheartedly agree that HILLARY AKA KILLERY IS. O INTJ unless it suits her! She has way too much emotion.
I have as an INTJ woman the T trait 90 percent. I never got an result under 80 percent. It kind of scares me, but on the other hand my empathy is extreme, far more developed than within the F types. They feel, but don´t know why, on the other hand I know why, but that doesn´t mean I can always pull it through into proper communication AKA interaction with those people… so who knows…
Technically, functions are the way to go when accurately determining your personality type, not percent numbers from popular mbti quizzes. With that being said, all the well-known quizzes online have accurately typed me as an INTJ female and always give me around 80-100% for Thinking trait( 16personalities was the 100% result if anyone is curious) What was mentioned above about females scoring lower is obviously BS.
I’m an INTJ woman too and I understand what you’re saying, but I think what you mean more than empathy is the deep understanding of people and how they think/feel and disregarding the emotional aspect. At least it’s that way for me …
I am a woman INTJ. I consistently score above 50% on T.
I don’t think that’s always the case. I’m an INTJ woman and score 90% and higher, rather consistently, in Thinking. I consistently see “feeling” too much as a problem that has to be fixed, and when I do have issues with emotions I get frustrated because there isn’t usually a way to fix it in a rational way.
I believe it is because her tertiary Fi is in good use. BUT, although Fi represents subjective ethics, it does not always ensure that its user is a moral person…
Actually she isnt.. If you really watch her she is very objective and disconnected unless she is with another intj or compatible personality. She is the ultimate mastermind and very very unemotional.
I’m so emotional and I’m INTJ????????♀️
not with that amount of question marks
Agree, the MBTI is for NON-PSYCHIATRIC POPULATIONS; Hillary is clearly obviously severely psychiatric and cannot be typed in this format.
That’s obviously a partisan post rather than an objective one.
You must be an F type?
WHAT? You must be a super judgmental type (self-righteous, proud, and arrogant.) If you think HRC is “normal,” and an IN, then you certainly have a problem with perception, JUDGEMENT, thinking and feeling. It just so happens that the work published from my research indicates some some VERY DEEP long term THINKING and use of introverted intuition that is free of bias and vanity; and the publication is dated 1991.
Sherlock Holmes in the series is definitely an INTP, not an INTJ. But in the books he is INTJ. The ways he talks is more similar to the INTPs. The ways he thinks is way more messier than an INTJ thinks. Btw, his openness of ideas makes him more look like an INTP.
“obviously severely psychiatric”
In what way is clear to all that she is very much a diagnostic of mental health?
Best comment on the thread.
(The one referring to the question marks)
I have never felt more proud to be an INTJ than after I read through this list. Regardless of being compared to a fictional cannibal, the Unabomber, and Moriarty. Haha.
INTJ’s are highly sensitive people. They just don’t expose it to anyone. Hillary Clinton is definitely an INTJ. I know because I’m am a woman INTJ. A very rare personality type for a woman.
What’s really great is the fact that her name on the list is pissing us all off lol. Not much thinking done on her behalf.
She is the least emotional person in politics.
Then if that’s the case Hillary would be INFJ? Which I doubt it.
Hillary Clinton is likely ESTJ : strategist, likes to be in charge , unlikable personality. She has some similarities with INTJ . However, INTJ woman would never stay in the marriage with such a womanizer as Bill because INTJ needs loyalty. Second, she always wanted to have power. INTJ doesn’t want power unless in emergency circumstances. Next, being the Secretary of State, she screwed up US relationships with many countries. Lack of diplomatic skills is an INTJ feature but INTJ would have learned fast new skills and come up with some innovative solutions . It didn’t happen with Clinton.
Great points!
She’s a politician, emotions can be faked.
MBTI is for NON-psychiatric persons; hillary clinton is in the deep end of psychotic and cannot be “typed” via the MBTI
Hillary is DEFINITELY an INTJ. She strives for perfection and in definitely an introvert.
Just because you show little emotion does not mean that you are not an INTJ. I’m an INTJ and I don’t show emotion on the outside but on the inside I do. It might be the opposite for Hillary.
I run a large Facebook page and I recently shared the link to this. People are asking me for all the other introvert successful lists for each type. I really hope you continue to complete them all so I can share them.
Thanks.
Journal Of Psychological Type, Volume 21, 1991, pages in the 60’s. (Sorry, but the only way to see this study is with a purchase; I get nothing, the publisher charges a small fee.) I am introverted, intuitive, and basically play high speed ping pong with T-F-J-P; TJ is in first place by a narrow margin. I play over 300 musical instruments on two different keyboard synthesizers (can’t read music, never had a lesson); have 14 one hour cd’s; play several genre’s, invented my own genre; samples can be found at https://soundcloud.com/joseph-freije; retired from a skilled trade; a former manufacturer’s representative & securities broker; uncovered explained in court–an in-house IRS embezzling scam; spent 9 yrs in court over the matter; have been profiled by the FBI, DOJ; I have a Facebook Page and I discuss issues associated with the current subjects. I have an otherwise very colorful history. I am not famous, have no interest in fame. I am mostly a recluse. Trouble finds me. When the government people deal with me, many times in the past; it is always 2-3-4 of them with guns, handcuffs, pepper spray, fight sticks, immunity, (twice there were dogs), supervisors and bullies; while I am unarmed. I sued a governor. Have hitch hiked across half of the U.S.; been on what should have been my death bed. Have otherwise travelled extensively to snow ski & scuba dive. I am a promoter of the MBTI theory and the practical application of the positive potential that exists in humanity. America is dying because people are DISCONNECTED in so many ways. If I can be of help, just let me know. Thanks.
Why did you put your life story in a reply to someone?
Fictional characters: Spock (Star Trek, Human/Vulcan is an INTJ. He differs from other Vulcans (ISTJs) as he is Ni dominate.
He often goes against ruling member suggestions and following his own visions..
*Ni dominant
What true INTJ even HAS a conformist social media page?
My thoughts exactly. Social media drives me past the boundaries of insanity, so I just ignore it usually. Too focused on more significant aspects of the world to become indulged in that crud.
Yes! It’s absolute insanity, but I have social media accounts, for the sole reason of keeping up with work. For some reason my county’s current superintendent releases information via social media before it’s released in conventional ways.
Actually, the archetype of social media himself is an INTJ; Mark Zuckerberg. Additionally, the logic makes perfect sense. The basis for this personality type is to forever keep things in the checks and balances, hence, many are equipped with glaring contradictions. Social media gives a platform to those who need time to reflect and draw from a wealth of knowledge prior to engaging in social banter. Their temporary loneliness can thus be satiated by a remote expression of feelings and thoughts allowing them to cling to their detachment. Yes, I did say cling to their detachment. We are talking about walking contradictions after all.
Ditto.
Even though Facebook was created (or, at least, popularized) by an INTJ (Mark Zuckerberg), I’m pretty sure he falls into the “evil mastermind” column….
Zuckerburg is has a very serious mental problem; a megalomania; he cannot be typed by the MBTI; it is for NON-psychiatric persons.
You’ve forgotten many others like Karl Marx and Hillary Clinton and Colin firth and etc.
Accordingly to your own sources, the wrong Presidents are listed.
Somehow this slipped! Thank you for letting us know about it.
Although Russel Crowe is NZ born he is an Australian and the Aussies can have him, just stop trying to steal Crowded House.
It’s a smelly group, I don’t like it. Do you have any INTJ artists, like painters, cartoonists, etc…
Hey Joe,
I’m not famous but I’m in INTJ artist – I’ve found that while I long for the clear-cut formula that science and clinical medicine provide, I dont feel it’s rational to exclude the energetic, symbolic functions of form – and this is based on my lived experience with constant synchronicity.
I dont believe matter is all there is; I have a fairly well developed spiritual side which differs dramatically from my Catholic upbringing. .
I’m naturally more gifted in abstract and non-linear thinking, with a highly developed love of colour, analogy, symbolism, and process.
I am able to work in what might be unconventionally “wild” ways for my type, but I always have an idea/theory in mind, and I allow my intuitive processing to lead me. I do a fair bit of writing alongside my painting practice as a way of fleshing out conclusions and understandings I’m coming to through the development of a piece, and the layered process of “building” a piece gives me a sense of structure to lean on. (I work in oil on wood)
I dont know if this is useful information to you, but perhaps it will shed some light on what an INTJ lady painter might look like.
I am a female, INTJ painter as well, Chloe! I also do a lot of writing alongside my practice. I always say that my mind tends to run ahead of my work. I often wonder if painting is something I should be pursuing because it runs so contrary to my personality, but I keep coming back to it in pursuit of the Sublime.
Cartoonist Colleen Doran is an INTJ
I could totally see Clinton as an INTJ, but she chooses to ignore the facts and manipulate them for her own ends.
Al Gore on the other hand… totally not an INTJ.
I disagree. I think both Hillary and Al are classic INTJ’s.
I always see Batman/Bruce Wayne typed as an INTJ, which I don’t understand. He’s so clearly an INFJ, his Fe is so obvious and he never goes against his own personal values.
I am surprised about the lack of women mentioned as INTJs. Please add and apologize. We demand being presented since a few women responded.
On another note: has anyone experienced transitioning from INTJ to INTF? Is this presented in the literature as possible? Thank you
Sherlock Holmes would not be an INTJ but an INTP in my opinion. He’s logical but more flexible like the P type. Moriarty is the perfect description of an INTJ.
Exactly 👍🏽
This list is so boring I almost fell asleep. Too much US-ness…Completely ignored The Brits, the Frenchies and Europeans.
Where is Zadie Smith or Jane Austen? Where is Christopher Hitchens? Where is Schwarzie? Where is Benoit Hamon? Where is Muriel Salmona?
Problem with US-centric media is that they are too navelists to extend their eyes beyond their own borders. Yes, you got Russ Crowe, James Cameron and Pr Hawking, but that’s not enough.
More research please…
And then you forget all the asians and the african continent… it s not good to be pickg just to show that you are european and oh so well cultivated while you obliterate half of the world yourself.
For your fictional list – Sheldon Cooper?
He’s definitely not an INTJ. He lacks intuition so badly..
I’m an INTJ. The fact is easy. I once read a joke where the ultimate debate would take place between two INTJ’s.
Not so.
One would present the most recent and established fact, and the other would thank him/her for it.
If you don’t get this, you’re not an INTJ.
Sherlock is either ISTP or INTP. In the books, he is written as an ISTP. In the Cumberbatch BBC show, he leans INTP. In the the RDJ films, he leans ENTP (however, I think that he is still an INTP).
Moriarity is definitely an INTJ (in the books and RDJ film).
It’s interesting how one letter like T to F can change someone’s personality from being interesting into something completely dull. Have you seen INFJ:?
On the contrary to popular belief, INTJs are not merely thought-centered, but rather they have a more intelligent way to approach emotionality, and once they establish an intelligent approach, they surrender themselves to the certain emotional event.
I’m an INTJ. Things to consider identifying an INTJ: the level of being curious and knowledgeable, being a deep thinker, the inclination to gather information, and being inventor and …..
According to Dr. Drench’s “16 personality types”, Hillary is, indeed, an INTJ. Thinkers can be emotional, too. Although most prefer not to unless they are extremely passionate about a certain subject.
I don’t see Hillary as INTJ. INTJs are more visionary and strategic. Hillary is NOT visionary and strategic at all. She is not intellectual. She follows the status quo. She is not inspirational like many INTJs can be when they have tapped into their passion. Anyone who is an INTJ knows we abhor and are repulsed by convention. I see her as ISTJ.
Sherlock is INTP from a lot of sources , it’s almost beated the INTJ argument , but you guys can’t fix it now, right?
It’s ok , check and search for a good sources next time.
Light Yagami is ENTJ too, not INTJ.
Newton has a difficult character, he could INTP, I’m not sure.
Hitler is an INTJ for sure !!
Hitler was insane, he can not be typed; but he is closest to ENTJ
You forgot Philip Pullman as an INTJ from the authors/writers list.
Sherlock Holmes is an INTJ
In a simple way: he is more orderly
In 99 percent of times
And his brother “mycroft” is an INTP
Winston Wolf
“If I’m curt with you, it’s because time is a factor here. I think fast, I talk fast, and I need you guys to act fast if you want to get out of this. So, pretty please, with sugar on top, clean the f***ing car.”
You have listed C. S. Lewis on both the INTJ and INFP pages. Which one is he, please?
Thanks for spotting this. He’s an INFP!
Missing some fictional characters:
Thomas Shelby – Peaky Blinders
Ellen Ripley – Alien Franchise
Amy Dunne – Gone Girl
Scientist and Entertainer Hedy Lamarr is believed to have been an INTJ
Other Entertainers not listed above (which are believed to be this type:
Julia Stiles
Angela Lansbury
Ashley Olsen
Nice!
One thing is INTJ could be A or T. A is Assertive and T is Turbulance. I am INTJ-T. So I know how it feels when you are between T and F. However, I learned how to use my T to manifest my F (emotions) and it becomes a firm and structured emotions rather than bursting cries and shouts.
Anyway, I’m not sure Hillary Clinton is an INTJ.
Interesting the list did not include comedians. Difficult to believe that is a oversight.
Hi, fellow INTJs!
I’m so grateful for this. I’ve always thought that I would never find anyone with the same thought process as me. Yet here I am, amid fellow INTJs. I love our personality and wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve always thought that I had to conform to allow others to understand me, but now I couldn’t be more terrified of being the same as everyone else. I think more than anything, we are misunderstood. Continue being great, INTJs! We might be strange but we are definitely the most intelligent out of all the personality types!
INTP would give us a run for the gold; I believe Tesla is INTP, like Copernicus. Telsa was the smartest man I know of; but I’ve made miscalculations in the past.
Your list of INTJ TYPES has to the worst I’ve ever seen. I didn’t even look at the other types. You’re lucky there’s no major penalty for misinforming the readers of this site.. if you aren’t sure or just don’t know a type, don’t just guess.
INTJs are the easiest type of all to visually identify.
No, Sherlock is definitely not an INTJ. Probably more of an ISTP.
Jim, I am a little puzzled by your comment. INTJ is a RARE type. If there were more of us, I think the world would be a much better place. I would say that ES types are the EASIEST to identify; since there are so many of them; i.e. the tv is virtually 80%+ ES for example.
What types of people “moderate” this site? Please send me an email and answer this question. Also we must not forget the impact of our “shadow” type, and archetype influences.
Maybe your Fe function is developed. My T is 75% and I don’t show my emotions much, neither am I overwhelmed by them.
When I saw…
Saban, Belichick, Zuckerberg, Jay-Z, Hillary Clinton, JFK, Eisenhower, Issac Newton, SunTzu, Nitschke, Beethoven, etc..
Collectively, they blessed us with their gifts of creativity, originality, and how to win from within.
From these, I learned to begin each endeavor with the end in mind…that only they who attempt the ridiculous can achieve the impossible.
Many with this temperament appeared to us as aloof. Unwelcomed in this strange world, they succeeded, in large part, not because of us, but despite us….forced to rely on their natural uniqueness, individuality and courage.
To those who read this post, I leave you with this poem which, I believe, fully captures the essence of the INTJ’s temperament.
………………
“The man who follows the crowd will get no further than the crowd. While the man who walks alone…is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before.
Creativity in living is not without its attendant difficulties. Why? Because peculiarity breeds contempt.
And the unfortunate thing about being ahead of your time is that…when people finally say that you are right…they will say that it was obvious all along.
Regardless, you have only one choice in life: You can dissolve into the mainstream OR you can be distinct.
But remember: To be distinct you must be different.
And to be different…you must boldly strive to be what no one else but you can be.”
……………….
Thanks for reading and understanding the INTJ.