5. Bobby Fischer

Bobby Fischer’s chess mastery stunned the world, earning him the title of World Chess Champion and a place among history’s greatest players. Yet as his fame grew, so did his paranoia and eccentricity. Fischer became increasingly suspicious of friends and foes alike, lashing out at officials and isolating himself from society. His notorious withdrawal from public life marked a dramatic retreat from the game he had once dominated, leaving many to wonder how closely genius and instability are linked. [Source: NPR]



