Tener mucho genio

Tener mucho genio
 

I know tener mal genio means ill willed. Does tener mucho genio mean the same?

I don't think so. For me, it means "to be very ingenious" or "to be very intelligent". :)

I think it will depend on the context.

To me, the first impression if you say,
"Pepe tiene mucho genio", comes across as "tiene mal genio", in the sense of "genio" as (DRAE) "3. m. Mal carácter, temperamento difícil."

So now I assume that Pepe tiene mucho genio = Pepe is a real character or a real piece of work.
Some who is a real character/piece of work can mean they have a colorful personality, but it often has negative connotations.

PS The meaning probably changes from country to country. Pepe tiene mucho genio in Mexico means he's a bright guy, but in Spain, he's a tipo.

I suppose so, Poli. None of the people I know would have expected that someone with "mucho genio" would be ill tempered.
I think we would say "tiene mucho carácter" instead, which can be understood as someone very strong and determined, but also as someone with a strong will in a negative way. :D

Para mi, una persona con "mucho genio" es una persona inteligente y resiliente.
En cambio una persona "mal genio" tiene un comportamiento rabioso y agresivo.
Un "malas pulgas"