CTO is typically an executive position, not an IC position.

The CTO at my $500m, YC, series-C startup is not the most technical member of the staff, does not have the broadest technical knowledge, is not the most experienced, nor is he the best in any single technical field in our team.

You misunderstand the role of the CTO in most orgs. His job is to guide technical strategy based on where business is headed. Manage staffing levels, general technical org operations, manage people, be the final arbiter on some org-level technical decisions based on business strategy alignment.

> You misunderstand the role of the CTO in most orgs. His job is to guide technical strategy based on where business is headed.

A great CTO not only guides the technical strategy based on business direction BUT ALSO shapes the business strategy informed by technology direction.

It really depends on the size, it can span from the lead programmer to the lead architect to the lead technical manager to the strategic technical partner and/or technical visionary for the company.