SpongeBob SquarePants Characters Ranked By Intelligence

Just like in the real world, every TV show is made up of a variety of people, each with their own unique strengths, weaknesses, interests, dislikes, and traits. Take SpongeBob SquarePants, for example. Each of the series’ ten main characters all have areas in which they excel, and they have all had moments that prove they are certainly far from perfect.

But who among them is the smartest? Who has the most knowledge of them all? Who is the real brain of the group, and who is not? Down below, the stars of this animated television series are listed and ranked from the least intelligent to the most intelligent. 

10 Patrick

Without a doubt, Patrick Star belongs at the very bottom of this list. It’s easily the most obvious answer when it comes to this topic. While he is funny and friendly, he is not the brightest bulb, and most of his plotlines revolve around how dumb, immature and naive he is. 

If anyone needs further proof, just look at his house: He literally lives under a rock! He can’t help but be loved, though, right?

9 SpongeBob

While SpongeBob is the star of the show and one of the most beloved cartoon characters of all time, he, too, is not the brightest. He’s just slightly smarter than his buddy Patrick. Yes, he has many other positive qualities that make him lovable, but when it comes to intelligence, he has a low ranking. 

A big part of this is that he usually acts like a child, which means he is full of imagination but also quite gullible and silly.

8 Pearl

Pearl Krabs is Mr. Krabs’ daughter, and she can be a typical teen girl, throwing dramatic fits and spending her free time at the mall. However, she is also skilled in the area of math, and her father wants her to someday run the Krusty Krab. That helps her score pretty well here.

Since she is a whale, she does have a big brain, but she is young, so she can also be selfish and emotional.  

7 Mrs. Puff

Mrs. Poppy Puff is a teacher in Bikini Bottom, and she is often seen trying to teach SpongeBob how to drive. His nervousness has led to wrecks behind the wheel, which has led to this character being pretty paranoid.

Since she is a professional who passes her knowledge onto others, though, she is smarter than several other main characters in this series. 

6 Squidward

Although Squidward Tentacles may work as the cashier at the Krusty Krab, he could probably excel at a variety of jobs, as he is educated and cultured. From how he dresses and what he paints to the music he listens to, he is definitely more mature and refined than his neighbors.

However, his negative traits (such as his selfishness and rudeness) usually overshadow his smarts.

5 Mr. Krabs

Next up is Eugene Harold Krabs, who started and runs the Krusty Krab restaurant. Most of the time, he is just thinking or talking about money, and his greed has led to some real bumps in the road.

Overall, though, Mr. Krabs must be pretty bright, since he has owned such a successful business for so long. 

4 Gary 

It is time to move on to Gary, who is SpongeBob’s pet sea snail. He might seem like a surprising pick to rank this highly but it makes sense.

This little guy can drive, play instruments and even read, so he certainly belongs close to the number one spot. Yes, despite his size and limited vocabulary, he is rather special and gifted!

3 Plankton 

Now, for the top three on this list of the most intelligent characters on SpongeBob SquarePants… Sheldon J. Plankton also has a local restaurant, the Chum Bucket. It is not nearly as popular or as successful as the Krusty Krab, but this character did open it and does run it.

He could have more customers if he ever was able to steal the secret formula for Krabby Patties, and he has tried over and over again. This proves further that he is cunning and determined. However, the plans usually get all messed up, and that is typically because of Plankton’s impulsive behavior.  

2 Sandy

Someone who is even smarter is Sandy Cheeks, a squirrel who loves karate, science, and Texas. She is actually probably one of the most intelligent cartoon characters out there, and that is true for a couple of reasons.

For one, she is super sensible and mature, unlike, say, her friends SpongeBob and Patrick. And secondly, she built her tree dome and air suit, which goes to show how talented and bright she is.

1 Karen

The brainiest character (one who, ironically, does not even have a brain) on this television show is Karen Plankton, Plankton’s wife, and a supercomputer.

From coming up with ways to steal a secret recipe to co-owning the Chum Bucket, this robot-like woman holds more information and remains more analytical than anyone else, earning her the top spot on this list! 

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