Which person has the most patents in the world?

Asked by: Octavia Shields  |  Last update: May 10, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (64 votes)

The person with the most patents globally is Japanese inventor Dr. Shunpei Yamazaki, holding a Guinness World Record with over 20,000 patents in semiconductor technology as of March 2025. For corporations, Samsung often leads in annual grants, while companies like State Grid Corporation (China) and Amazon rank highly in overall patent portfolio strength and influence, though rankings shift yearly and by metric (granted patents vs. active families).

Who holds the most patents in the world?

Key Takeaways

  • Shunpei Yamazaki holds the most patents by a person, with over 11,000 patents worldwide.
  • Kia Silverbrook has over 4,700 patents globally and 3,800 U.S. patents, making him a major patent holder.
  • Inventors like Donald Weder, Lowell Wood, and Gurtej Sandhu also rank among the highest patent holders.

Who has more than 1000 patents?

Thomas Alva Edison, 1847-1931 - Pub c1895. Thomas Alva Edison was one of the most prolific and influential inventors in history. Born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, Edison held over 1,000 patents for his inventions, which ranged from electric light and power systems to motion picture cameras and phonographs.

Who are the top 5 inventors of all time?

While lists vary, the top inventors often include Thomas Edison (light bulb, phonograph), Nikola Tesla (AC power, radio), Johannes Gutenberg (printing press), Leonardo da Vinci (polymath, concept designs), and figures like Alexander Graham Bell (telephone) or Steve Jobs (personal tech), consistently recognized for revolutionary impact on communication, power, and daily life. 

How many patents does Elon have?

How many patents does Elon Musk have? Elon Musk has a total of 25 patents globally. These patents belong to 8 unique patent families.

The Countries with the Highest Number of Patents Granted per Year

26 related questions found

How many patents does Albert Einstein have?

However, while Einstein is known as a great theoretical physicist, few possibly knew that he had more than 50 patents in his names and in several counties. How did a great theoretical physicist get interested in patenting inventions?

How many patents does Mark Zuckerberg have?

While Mark Zuckerberg is best known as the face of social media, his role as an inventor is often overlooked. Mark Zuckerberg is officially listed as an inventor on over 200 patents, many of them tied directly to the foundations of modern social networking.

Which country is no. 1 in invention?

While definitions vary, Switzerland consistently ranks #1 for overall innovation in reports like the Global Innovation Index (GII) (2023-2025), praised for R&D, universities, and creative output, with Sweden, the US, South Korea, and China also leading in different aspects of innovation, including patents, tech investment, and business sophistication, showing a global shift in innovation power.
 

Who is the king of invention?

Thomas Alva Edison: The King of Inventors. Primary source documents capture Edison's spirit, the progress he made on new inventions and the setbacks - both personal and professional.

Who failed 999 times?

Thomas Edison (1847–1931), American inventor and founder of General Electric Corporation, famously failed to make a working electric light bulb 999 times, or so the myth goes, but was successful on his 1,000th attempt.

Who is the black woman with 200 patents?

Marian Croak is currently named as an inventor on over 200 patents, and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2022. Along with Dr. Patricia Bath, she was one of the first two African American women ever to be inducted.

What is the most valuable patent in history?

Patent No. 174,465, granted to Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 for the invention of the telephone, is often heralded as one of the most valuable patents ever issued.

Who invented the most stuff?

Thomas Edison is often regarded as the epitome of the modern inventor. With over 1,000 patents, Edison's historic breakthrough innovations ranged from the electric light bulb to the phonograph.

Who is the only US president with a patent?

Abraham Lincoln is the only U.S. president to have received a patent, which was for a device to help boats navigate shallow waters by using inflatable air chambers to increase buoyancy (Patent No. 6,469, issued May 22, 1849). The invention, called "Buoying Vessels Over Shoals," stemmed from Lincoln's own experiences as a ferryman when boats would get stuck.
 

Who has the most 6G patents?

China leads global 6G patent applications. At the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, the China Internet Development Report 2025 showed that as of the first half of 2025, China accounted for about 40.3% of global 6G patent applications, ranking first in the world. In the field of AI...

Who are the top 5 inventors?

While lists vary, the top 5 inventors often include Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Alexander Graham Bell, the Wright Brothers, and Leonardo da Vinci, recognized for world-changing inventions from electricity and communication to flight and foundational art/science concepts, alongside innovators like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington Carver for societal impact. 

Has anyone ever rejected a Nobel Prize?

The 59-year-old author Jean-Paul Sartre declined the Nobel Prize in Literature, which he was awarded in October 1964. He said he always refused official distinctions and did not want to be “institutionalised”. M.

Who was smarter, Albert Einstein or Nikola Tesla?

You can't definitively say one was "smarter" as they had different kinds of genius: Einstein was a profound theoretical physicist focused on universal laws (relativity), while Tesla was a visionary inventor and electrical engineer focused on practical applications, creating our AC power system and remote control, with his intelligence often described as more visual and engineering-oriented. Both were extraordinary minds, but Einstein excelled at abstract thought and theory, while Tesla excelled at visualization, invention, and bringing technology into reality, making them geniuses in different domains. 

Is the US still #1 in technology?

Although the U.S. is ranked number 4 in technological expertise, it is ranked number 1 in quality innovation for a high-income economy. It was recently ranked one of the top three most overall technologically innovative nations.

What country made the most items?

Top 10: Manufacturing Countries

  • 9 | Mexico. ...
  • 8 | Italy. ...
  • 6 | South Korea. ...
  • 5 | India. ...
  • 4 | Germany. ...
  • 3 | Japan. Percentage of global manufacturing output: 6.5% ...
  • 2 | United States. Percentage of global manufacturing output: 15.9% ...
  • 1 | China. Percentage of global manufacturing output: 31.6%

What country has influenced the world most?

The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power. Likewise, its cultural imprint spans the world, led in large part by its popular culture expressed in music, movies and television.

What is the 80% rule Zuckerberg?

Googlers call Zuckerberg's approach the 80 percent rule

She calls this idea the 80 percent rule. It states you should schedule only about 80 percent of your days. Leave 20 percent open to absorb whatever craziness comes up.

Who invested $500,000 in Facebook?

PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel was the person who invested $500,000 in Facebook in 2004, becoming its first outside investor and securing a 10% stake in the burgeoning social network, a move that helped fund its expansion and laid the groundwork for a massive return on investment. 

Who owns most 5G patents?

5G Patent Leaders: Who Owns the Most IP?

  1. Huawei holds the highest number of declared 5G patents, with over 20% of global 5G patent families. ...
  2. Qualcomm owns around 10% of all global 5G patent families. ...
  3. Samsung is a leading 5G patent holder, accounting for approximately 15% of global 5G patent families.