Michael Holt isn't simply gifted, he's extremely special. He learned the theory of time and space continuum and read and assimilated the works of Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, Max Planck, and Richard Feyman by the age of six years old. Though things for him have never been fair. A child prodigy, he has an astronomical IQ and is a natural athlete. On the other hand, his older brother Jeffrey, was mentally challenged and died at the age of 15.
Michael went on to acquire numerous doctorates and degrees, precisely 14 of them, as well as becoming an Olympic Decathlete. He was a self-made billionaire, due to his natural aptitude for learning. Even these accomplishments garnering him a small fortune, his greatest moment though was when he married his wife Paula. She gave him a purpose for living. And then she died in a car accident. He lost her and their unborn child.
Considering suicide, Michael contemplated his life. He was than approached by the Spectre. The Spirit of Divine Vengeance told Michael Holt about a man named Terry Sloane, the Golden Age Mr. Terrific. Inspired by Terry's similar natural gifts and origin, Michael decided to take up his mantle. He realized that though he was a prodigy, it was Paula and Jeffrey who were his role models. In their memory he turned his anger and sadness into resolve. If life wasn't fair, he'd make it fair.
