Marilyn vos Savant

Marilyn vos Savant is an American author and magazine columnist best known for writing the long-running “Ask Marilyn” advice-and-puzzle column in *Parade* magazine.

Marilyn vos Savant is an American author and magazine columnist, best known for writing the long-running "Ask Marilyn" advice-and-puzzle column in *Parade* magazine. She gained widespread recognition after *The Guinness Book of World Records* listed her as having the highest recorded IQ, a category later retired. Her work has made her a familiar reference point for readers interested in puzzles, statistics, and science communication.

Early life

Marilyn vos Savant was born Marilyn Mach on August 11, 1946, in St. Louis, Missouri. Available biographical sources describe her as an American writer who became known publicly for her exceptionally high IQ score.

Writing career

Since 1986, vos Savant has written the Sunday column "Ask Marilyn" for *Parade* magazine. The column features puzzle-solving and answers to readers’ questions on a range of subjects.

Public recognition

Vos Savant became widely known after *The Guinness Book of World Records* listed her as having the highest recorded IQ. The record category was later retired because IQ tests were judged too unreliable for assigning a single holder.

Monty Hall problem

One of her best-known column responses was her explanation of the Monty Hall problem in 1990. That answer brought major public attention to the puzzle and sparked widespread discussion.