Adragon Eastwood De Mello graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in computational mathematics in 1988, at age 11.
Adragon De Mello's father, Agustin Eastwood De Mello (1929–2003), had set the goal that his son would become a Nobel Prize laureate by age 16. The elder De Mello was a karate master, flamenco guitarist, and former weightlifting champion, and he vigorously mentored Adragon from an early age.
In 1981, Adragon De Mello was accepted into Mensa.
After attending a series of schools for gifted children, Adragon attended Cabrillo College for two years starting in 1984.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →In 1987, while at university, Adragon and his father were interviewed by Morley Safer on 60 Minutes. They also appeared on 48 Hours (TV series) and The Tonight Show. While he did graduate from university in 1988, some of his math teachers later claimed that his grades were borderline.
Adragon was accepted into a graduate program at the Florida Institute of Technology. In July 1988, his parents separated and, after a brief period in foster care, he returned to the custody of his mother, Cathy Gunn.
The father and son became the center of a national debate in the 1980s over parents pushing children toward academic achievement.
Although a college graduate, he opted to enroll in Sunnyvale Junior High School (now Sunnyvale Middle School) under the assumed name of James Gunn. He found it "nice because no one knew who [he] was" and was "upset" when local papers identified him after his graduation. In 1994, he graduated from Homestead High School.
Adragon never achieved his father ambition to receive the Nobel prize and stated that:
I know he’s proud of me. Of course I didn’t get a Nobel Prize," Adragon said. "I really didn’t have the desire to.
In 2000, he was training to be an estimator for a commercial painting company.
And what about De mello himself? did he thought he is a genius?
"Genius?...I don't think so," A.D. says. "Later on in life I realized that a lot of other kids put in the same situation probably could have done the same thing. And - so I don't think that makes me a genius."
On March 15, 2001, the elder De Mello, allegedly called 4-1-1 asking for the phone number of the police and mentioning that he was dying of cancer. This led to an armed standoff with Santa Cruz police. He was subsequently charged with assault with a deadly weapon. De Mello, suffering from bladder cancer, was released to the custody of his son.
Agustin de Mello died on May 30, 2003.
As of 2003, De Mello was working for The Home Depot.
As of 2016, Adragon is married and has a young daughter.
Adragon has three half brothers fathered by Agustin - Brad Farha (b. 1962), Andre Jappen (b. 1963, d. 2015) and Pete Jappen (b. 1964).
Top questions
Who is Adragon Eastwood De Mello?
Adragon Eastwood De Mello is an American born in 1976 who graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, at age 11 in 1988. At the time he was the youngest person to receive a university degree, a record that brought him national media attention.
What did Adragon De Mello study?
Adragon De Mello studied computational mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he enrolled by age 11. He graduated at age 11, in 1988. He did not pursue an academic or professional career in mathematics afterward and instead worked a variety of ordinary jobs.
What was Adragon De Mello's IQ?
Adragon De Mello's IQ is reported as tested at 185, a figure his father promoted extensively. Whether the testing was conducted under standard conditions has been questioned, so the number is best treated as a contested claim rather than a verified result, even though it became part of his public identity.
How was Adragon De Mello raised?
Adragon De Mello's father, Agustin De Mello, managed his early life like a professional training program. Adragon was homeschooled with an accelerated curriculum, denied most typical childhood activities, and kept to a schedule built entirely around academic advancement. His father had been intensely focused on developing his intellect from birth.
What happened to Adragon De Mello after he graduated?
After graduating, Adragon De Mello largely withdrew from public life and for a long time avoided the notoriety his childhood brought. He worked ordinary jobs, including at The Home Depot as of 2003. In later interviews he spoke openly about the loss of a normal childhood and the alienation from peers.
Why is Adragon De Mello's story often cited?
Adragon De Mello's story is often cited in discussions of child prodigies, parental pressure and the ethics of accelerated education. It shows the difference between measurable achievement and personal flourishing. In later life he became an advocate for children's autonomy and described his father's involvement in harsh terms.
