Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla, a man whose name is practically synonymous with "mad scientist chic," gave us alternating current, radio (suck it, Marconi!), and generally made sure we weren't all still reading by candlelight. He was a visionary, a genius, and by all accounts, quite the eccentric.

Despite a name that sounds vaguely Slavic-but-could-be-something-else, Tesla was as Serbian as slivovitz. Born in what is now Croatia, his family was firmly Eastern Orthodox. No gefilte fish at those family gatherings, we can assure you.

While his contributions to modern technology are undeniable, making him super kvell-worthy for any nation, religion, or species that enjoys electricity, Tesla never married, had few close friends, and was notoriously bad with money. He died alone and relatively penniless in a New York City hotel, a testament to the fact that being brilliant doesn't always mean being good at life.