...or perhaps they're totally unaware of the existence of genius. Perhaps if they realized what they were attempting required genius they'd never have attempted it in the first place for fear that they didn't have the genius necessary to succeed.
Haha, no way. I've worked with or met a half dozen MacArthur fellows, and none of them were shy about bringing up that fact. You could argue that MacArthur selects for self-promoting geniuses, but such creatures clearly do exist.
This I've found over the years is more a product of insecurity than of ego or genius. People quick to tout their alumnus or IQ... or indeed any other measure of intelligence in such a manner are looking for validation and acceptance of their superiority because it satisfies their insecurity.
Though, I would have given my right arm to go to MIT earlier in my life, just for access to MITs professors, forget the degree.