Lady Gaga is an introvert. She has admitted she is shy and she often feels like she doesn't fit in.
But the unconvinced may be surprised to learn that some of today's most successful business leaders are introverts. Consider this list: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, Marissa Mayer and Elon Musk. Yep, all introverts.
David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Mostly known for his dramatic musical transformations, was introverted. He was lonely, he wanted to connect with people like him through his art. He created stage personas that helped him become someone else, a star on stage.
Well, not quite. Steve Martin is actually an introvert. And so are Glenn Close, Helen Hunt, Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Noah Wyle, Julia Roberts, and Gwyneth Paltrow among others. How is it possible for an actor to be an introvert when, after all, their career is to “ham it up” in front of audiences?
Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Jim Carrey, Danny Aiello, Melissa Rauch, Jim Parsons, Chris Pine, Tom Hanks, and Al Pacino are all known to have endured painful shyness during their childhoods.
INTPs and INTJs are typically seen as the most introverted types. They both enjoy reflecting on their own thoughts and ideas. It's important for them to have time and space away from others in order to truly engage with their inner world.
From all accounts, Elvis was an introvert. While he demonstrated powerful showmanship on stage, he was quiet and thoughtful in his daily life.
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence.
Not only is Einstein one of the most famous scientists in history, but he was also a known introvert. Leaning into his introverted nature, Einstein believed that his creativity and success came from keeping to himself. He said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”
ISFJ. ISFJ's are quiet, conscientious, and kind.
Perhaps it's because INFJ is the rarest MBTI personality type, making up only 1% to 3% of the U.S. population.1 Or maybe it's because they're walking, talking contradictions. INFJs are easy-going perfectionists. They're both logical and emotional, creative and analytical.
Those landing on the extreme side of the spectrum of introversion have traits that make others think something is wrong with them. For example, locking themselves away for extended periods, avoiding almost all social interactions, and doing practically everything by themselves.
Elon Musk. It might be strange to think that a man who's been described as the "next Steve Jobs" was once a reserved, introverted engineer -- but Musk himself is open about that past.
You're an introvert.
It gets better. As an adult, you now leverage your strength for processing, contemplating and thinking things over, which is a trait of highly intelligent people. In fact, more than 75 percent of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted.
He'd be positioned pretty firmly on the introversion side of our continuum. John is interesting. While he has strong extroverted tendencies, he also seemed to require and draw a lot of energy from the world of ideas.
Introverts tend to be more prone to overthinking than extroverts, but it's possible for anyone to fall into this trap. Being an introvert means you have a tendency towards self-reflection that can take its toll if you're not careful.
Introverts tend to experience more anticipatory anxiety and anxiety disorders than extroverts. Anxiety typically means your stress response is constantly activated, even if there's no clear cause for it.
Are you born introverted or is it something you become over time? Introverts likely develop due to a combination of both nature and nurture. The way that your body's physiology responds to the outside environment plays a critical role in determining your level of extroversion and introversion.
Marilyn Monroe
She's famously quoted as saying, “I restore myself when I'm alone”. She's the definition of an introvert, but it wasn't just the opportunity recharge that Marilyn reportedly enjoyed. She also said, "a career is born in public - talent in privacy".
He's had major hits in each decade he's performed, and continues to draw huge numbers at the box office in most of his films. Yet despite his electric performances on the screen, Reeves is well-known for his Introverted nature.
Carrey was an incurable extrovert from day one. As a child, he performed constantly, for anyone who would watch, and even mailed his résumé to The Carol Burnett Show (1967) at age 10.
1. Sweden. Sweden is often hailed as a great place to live with a high quality of life—and it's also an amazing haven for introverts. Swedish culture is very introverted in nature, and Swedish people tend to find a careful balance between being friendly but not overly outgoing.
In fact, there are many famous individuals throughout history (and even some of the biggest stars today) who are shy, quiet and prefer to live their lives out of the spotlight. Keep reading for 13 famous introverts, from Nelson Mandela to Meryl Streep.
Many of the world's most successful leaders such as Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates are considered introverted. The assumption that outgoing extroverts make better leaders can lead you to give fewer opportunities to introverted employees.