Discover the top 50 smartest people and the person with highest IQ in the world
Intelligence is an interesting and complex human trait that has fascinated the world through the centuries. It involves different cognitive abilities, which include problem-solving skills, memory capacity, creativity, and analytical thinking. However, there are different means to assess the quantitative measure of intelligence. One of the good methods is IQ tests, which helps an individual with a decent measure of intelligence to allow comparisons on the differences in intellectual aptitude.
Top 50 smartest individuals with their reported IQ scores
1. Marnen Laibow-Koser: IQ 268
Marnen Laibow-Koser, a musical prodigy, was said to have achieved an amazingly high IQ score of 268. He started his studies, performance, and composition of music at the age of 3. He is known for his music composing and computer based skills such as web development and lot more. He is proficient in playing several instruments, including flute, viola, piano, and fiddle. He is a capable music copyist and engraver and can take a piece of music and bring it into existence.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 10 October, 1974 |
| Place of Birth | Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA |
| Occupation | Composer, Web Developer |
| Education | B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Masters of Music degree |
| IQ Score | 268 |
| Parents’ Names | NA |
2. Ainan Cawley: IQ 263
Ainan Cawley is considered to be omnibus which is one of those rare individuals who have enormous talents in various fields that very rarely come together. Cawline, an expert in chemistry has gone through the test which presented his IQ level to be 263. He is known for his great memory as he memorized pi, reciting 518 digits on camera at the age of just 8 years. This is itself an achievement as a child.
| Category | Description |
|---|
| Date of Birth | 23 Nov 1999 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Singapore |
| Occupation | Scientist, Lecturer |
| Education | Self-taught, O-Level Chemistry at age 7 |
| IQ Score | 263 |
| Parents’ Names | Valentine Cawley and Syahidah Osman |
3. William Sidis: IQ 250+
William Sidis went through an IQ test by a psychologist and,it was found that the psychologist had never seen such high scores before. It is found that his IQ score is above 250. He was recognized for his skills in math and different languages. He was known as a mathematician, linguist, historiographer, and author. He authored a book The Animate and the Inanimate, published in 1925, in which he wrote on the origin of life in the context of thermodynamics.
| Category | Description |
|---|
| Date of Birth | 1 Apr 1898 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | New York City, USA |
| Occupation | Mathematician, Linguist |
| Education | Law from Harward University |
| IQ Score | 250 |
| Parents’ Names | Boris Sidis and Sarah Mandelbaum Sidis |
4. Terence Tao: IQ 225–230
Terence Tao was truly a math genius since childhood. He was awarded prizes for his accomplishments in the domain of mathematics. Based on the test conducted, his IQ is reported to be between 225 and 230. He has been known as the author as he has published many research papers and is widely known as one of the greatest mathematicians. Tao had the greatest mathematical reasoning ability he had discovered in years of exhaustive searching. Tao was the youngest competitor yet in the International Mathematical Olympiad, competing at the age of ten, winning medals at the Olympiad in 1986, 1987, and 1988, bronze, silver, and gold, respectively. Tao still remains the youngest winner of bronze, silver, and gold medals in the history of the International Mathematical Olympiad, winning the gold medal in 1988 when he was 13 years old.
| Category | Description |
|---|
| Date of Birth | 17 Jul 1975 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Adelaide, Australia |
| Occupation | Mathematician |
| Education | Ph.D. in Mathematics from Princeton University |
| IQ Score | 225-230 |
| Parents’ Names | Billy Tao and Grace Leong |
5. Marilyn vos Savant: IQ 228
When Marilyn Vos Savant was 10 years old, an appropriate mental test proved that she had an IQ measured as 228 which is the average IQ level of approx 23 years old adult. She is also known as a writer for non-fiction books. She has great impact on mathematics and had helped various people to think critically in different aspects with the help of her critical writtings and magazines.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 11 Aug 1946 |
| Place of Birth | St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Occupation | Author, Columnist |
| Education | Philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis |
| IQ Score | 228 |
| Parents’ Names | JosephMach and Marina vos Savant |
6. Christopher Hirata: IQ 225
Christopher Hirata learned the skills and mastered calculus and advanced physics at the time of his schooling. At the age of 14, he graduated from high school he continued his thorough studies in physics and served as a professor for the same domain. He was considered as the second-highest IQ based on the research by BBQ. Hirata has contributed to precision cosmology, interdisciplinary computer studies, theoretical studies and observational astronomy. He scored 228 in the IQ test.
| Date of Birth | 30 Nov 1982 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA |
| Occupation | Astrophysicist |
| Education | Ph.D. in Physics |
| IQ Score | 228 |
| Parents’ Names | NA |
7. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: IQ 210–225
As per the various tests conducted, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe has an IQ of between 210 and 225. He is also known as one of the greatest and most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide impact on various areas such as literary, political, and philosophy in the Western world from the late 18th century till now. Goethe is the only literary figure from Germany comparable both in range and international stature to the great philosophers and composers of Germany. Within the literary culture of the German-speaking countries of Europe, Goethe has been so dominant that archived writing on the German literary has described his work as classical.
| Date of Birth | 28 Aug 1749 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire |
| Occupation | Writer, Scientist |
| Education | University of Strasbourg |
| IQ Score | 210-225 |
| Parents’ Names | Johann Caspar Goethe & Katharina Elisabeth Textor |
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8. Kim Ung-Yong: IQ 210
Kim Ung-Yong, a civil engineer from South Korea, has been called various names such as a “failed genius” or, according to many, the person with the highest IQ. His IQ has been numbered as 210. He was considered as one of the talented child. He started speaking 5 different languages when he was just 5 years old. Inhis childhood, he was able to solve the calculus problems, published book of his essays in English anf German. He was also good at calligraphy.
| Date of Birth | 8 Mar 1962 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Seoul, South Korea |
| Occupation | Civil engineer and associate professor at Shinhan University |
| Education | Ph.D. |
| IQ Score | 210 |
| Parents’ Names | NA |
9. William Shakespeare: IQ 210
Shakespeare was a famous playwright and poet. He was the creator of such literary works, which are timeless and still capture the wide audience in the world. His IQ is around 210. He is one of the greatest writer and known as the national poet of England and the "Bard of Avon". His work, includes some collaborations, comprises plays, sonnets, and long narrative poems. His plays have been translated into many major language and produced more frequently than the plays of any other playwright.
| Date of Birth | 23 Apr 1564 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Stratford-upon-Avon, England |
| Occupation | Playwright, Poet |
| Education | NA |
| IQ Score | 210 |
| Parents’ Names | John Shakespeare & Mary Arden |
10. Edith Stern: IQ 200+
Edith Stern is a famous American inventor and mathematician and former Vice President for Research and Development at IBM. The Stern published articles have reported that Edith Stern had an IQ more than 200. Additionally, she was a novelist, book editor, journalist, literary critic, and author of books about how to deal with problems associated with aging, mental illness, and disabled children. She has over 100 US patents and received the ASME Kate Gleason Award. Stern was a child prodigy, reading the Encyclopædia Britannica and then being the youngest-ever graduate of her university.
| Date of Birth | 1952 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | USA |
| Occupation | Engineer, Inventor |
| Education | Master's degree in mathematics at Michigan State University |
| IQ Score | 200+ |
| Parents’ Names | Aaron Stern and Bella Stern |
11. Michael Grost: IQ 200+
Michael Grost is a renown mathematician having an IQ simply high. Reports have mentioned that based on the tests conducted, Michael Grost has IQ score of more than 200. He has experience in the field of computer science in multiple domains including; designing the architecture of entire software systems, writing algorithms, working with Subject Matter Experts with customers to understand their business processes of a system, and more. Mike has experience with Java, Smalltalk, C++, Object-Oriented Analysis and Design, UML, and many other concerns. Michael states he loves making abstract paintings and reading about evolutionary biology.
| Date of Birth | 1954 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | USA |
| Occupation | Computer Scientist |
| Education | Ph.D. in mathematics from University of Michigan |
| IQ Score | 200+ |
| Parents’ Names | NA |
12. Dylan Jones: IQ 200+
Dylan Jones is known for his in-depth knowledge in various aspects as he has been qualified in multiple courses such as computer science, bioengineering and life science. In an interview, it is said that his IQ score was more than 200. Dylan Jones is a known British journalist, writer, and editor. He is also a multiple award winner, including the BSME Editor of the Year which he has won 7 times. Additionally, in addition to being a fashion in the fashion industry, he is a published author with many books on music, fashion and culture.
Date of Birth;18 January 1960
Place of Birth;Ely, United Kingdom
Occupation;Journalist and author
Education;B.A. in International studies from the University of Oregon
IQ Score;200+
Parents’ Names;NA
13. Sho Yano: IQ 200
Yano was born in Portland in 1990 and is known for being the youngest person ever to obtain a medical doctorate from the Pritzker School of Medicine. As per the tests conducted, his IQ score was around 200. He has written and published a book with title "Study with a dream does not betray".
Date of Birth;22 Apr 1990
Place of Birth;Chicago, Illinois, USA
Occupation;Physician, Pianist
Education;MD from University of Chicago
IQ Score;200
Parents’ Names;Katsura Yano and Kyung Yano
14. Nathan Leopold: IQ 200–220
Nathan Leopold’s IQ is more famous for his crime than his intelligence. When Leopold and his friend Richard Loeb murdered Bobby Franks in what the pair explained as an mindful exercise and an attempt to commit the perfect crime. Based on the measurement test, his IQ is said to be around 200-220. Leopold was an intelligent man with a great deal of intellectual curiosity who also had a deep interest in ornithology, but he was also a very complex man who was very deeply concerned about the impacts of his actions.
Date of Birth;19 Nov 1904
Place of Birth;Chicago, Illinois, USA
Occupation;NA
Education;Bachelor's from University of Chicago
IQ Score;200-220
Parents’ Names;Nathan Leopold Sr. and Florence Leopold
15. Thomas Wolsey: IQ 200
Thomas Wolsey was an English statesman and Catholic cardinal. In 1509, Wolsey became the king's almoner. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was considered one of the last politically influential person in England. He had scored 200 in the IQ test conducted.
Date of Birth;March 1473
Place of Birth;Ipswich, United Kingdom
Occupation;English statesman and Catholic cardinal
Education;Master of Arts degree
IQ Score;200
Parents’ Names;Robert Wolsey & Joan Daundy
16. Evangelos Katsioulis: IQ 198–205
Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis has joined the IQ Olympiad Psychology & Neuroscience Advisory Board. Dr. Katsioulis is a consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist. He is a Greek physician, psychiatrist and psychotherapist and has completed his studies in philosophy and information technology. He has scored between 198 and 205 in an IQ test. Katsioulis is noted for his high scores on intelligence tests.
17. Christopher Michael Langan: IQ 195
Christopher Michael Langan is an American horse rancher and a former bar bouncer, who is best known for scoring an extraordinarily high score on an IQ test that gave him entry into a high-IQ society. Langan has spent many years working on a hypothesis that reality is in fact a self-simulation which he calls the Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe. The thesis is published by him. He has been interviewed, and gathered a following amongst the alt-right with his self-published thoughts on various matters. He scored 195 in the IQ test.
Date of Birth;25 Mar 1952
Place of Birth;San Francisco, California, USA
Occupation;Writer, rancher and bouncer
Education;Montana State University
IQ Score;195
Parents’ Names;Melvin Letman, Mary Langan-Hansen
18. Rick Rosner: IQ 192–198
Rick Rosner has gone through various high-range IQ tests ranging between 192 to 198, depending on the factors defined by those tests. He is a famous writer for television shows. Richard Rosner is an American TV producer best known for the television show. Rosner later created a portable satellite television in partnership with DirecTV.
Date of Birth;2 Jan 1960
Place of Birth;USA
Occupation;Television Writer
Education;University of Colorado Boulder
IQ Score;192-198
Parents’ Names;Alfred D. Rosner
19. Garry Kasparov: IQ 190s
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, political activist and writer. He once recieved the highest Chess rating. Garry Kasparov's IQ was considered the world's best for almost two decades. At a young, Kasparov became the youngest world chess champion.
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20. Michael Kearney: IQ 190s
Michael Kearney holds the detailed knowledge of anthropology. Also, he has earned the certificate for being world’s youngest college graduate. The tests conducted says that Kearney had an IQ score of nearly 200. Michael Kevin Kearney is an American college assistant and game show contestant known for a number of world records related to being the youngest to graduate at various levels and a teenager teaching college students.
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21. Isaac Newton: IQ 190–200
Isaac Newton is a scientist with an estimated IQ between 190 and 200. Though he was a mathematician, astronomer and writer, he contributed principally to laws of motion. Isaac Newton was an English polymath with active pursuits in mathematics, physics, astronomy, alchemy, theology, and writing. Newton played a central role as a figure in the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment that resulted. Newton made fundamental contributions in optics. He contributed to and developed the scientific method, and his work is considered the most significant in ushering in modern science.
22. Srinivasa Ramanujan: IQ 185
Srinivasa Ramanujan an Indian mathematician, and often regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, often with almost no formal professional training in pure mathematics , made significant contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series and continued fractions, including finding solutions to problems in mathematics that were thought to be unsolvable. Today, Ramanujan is best known for his contributions to the theory of numbers and is thought to have had an IQ of 185.
23. Adragon De Mello: IQ 185
De Mello is the American child prodigy who broke the record of being the youngest person to graduate in the history of the U.S. He was one of the most intelligent person who scored about 185 in the IQ test.
24. Hugo Grotius: IQ 185–190
Hugo Grotius, a Dutch jurist and scholar was said to have an IQ of around 185. Grotius is famous for his contributions to international law. He is a known personality in philosophy, political theory and law and related areas in the seventeenth century and later. He wrote on a broad range of topics related to governance, but philosophers today know him largely for his place in natural law theories of normativity that arose in the early modern periods.
25. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz: IQ 185–190
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz had sharp intelligence. His knowledge ranged in a wide variety of subjects. He was a German mathematician, logician, philosopher, and lawyer, hence being the last universal genius. He has scored 180 in the IQ test. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a polymath from Germany who engaged in mathematics, philosophy, science, and diplomacy. He wrote works in philosophy, theology, ethics, politics, law, history, philology, games, music, and other subjects. Leibniz played a pivotal role in physics and technology as well. He made a contribution to the field of library science by developing a cataloguing system that was subsequently used as a model by some of the largest libraries in Europe. Leibniz's contributions to a variety of academic subjects are dispersed in a variety of learned periodicals, thousands of letters, and unpublished manuscripts. He wrote in many languages, including Latin, French, and German languages.
26. John Stuart Mill: IQ 180–190
John Stuart Mill was a great philosopher and economist who used his intelligence to further his profession. Mill was a philosopher, political economist, politician and civil servant from England. Mill was one of the most notable and influential thinkers in the liberal tradition and made articles and contributions to social theory, political theory, and political economy. He has scored above 180 in the IQ test.
27. Leonardo da Vinci: IQ 180–220
While IQ tests were not available during Leonardo da Vinci's time, it is assumed that his score would be between 180 and 220. Like the other few people considered geniuses, he had many skills, from art and science to music and architecture. He is one of the renown genius based on his detailed knwledge and expertise in various aspect when the resources were rare but he researched well.
28. Marie Curie: IQ 180–200
Marie Curie was the famous physicist and chemist, the very first woman to win the Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. Under her direction came the world's first studies of the treatment of neoplasms by radioactive isotopes. A test to her genius was her exceptional proficiency in the science field level, an IQ score exceeded 180.
29. Blaise Pascal: IQ 180–195
Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher and one of the few people who made major contributions to math and probability theory. He has scored 180+ in the IQ test. He has great contribubtion in mathematics as he was involved in the development of game and probability theory.
30. Cleopatra: IQ 180
Cleopatra knew 10 languages and had the knowledge of mathematics, philosophy, rhetoric and astronomy. As per the tests, Cleopatra's IQ score is around 180. She was the queen of the Egypt.
31. James Woods: IQ 180
James Howard Woods is an American actor. He is recognizable for playing fast-talking, intense roles to great effect on stage and screen. He has won various prizes and nominated as well. He was a talented actor known for his hardwork and his performances. According to the tests conducted, James Woods has scored 180 in the IQ test. He is an actor by profession.
32. Hypatia: IQ 170–210
Hypatia, a mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, was the most brilliant mind in 4th-century Greece. The estimated IQ range for this brilliant lady would be between 170 and 210. She was also a popular teacher and a lecturer on philosophical issues which are less studied. She had lots of followers and drew large audiences.
33. John H. Sununu: IQ 176
John H. Sununu is most recognized for his political careers i n America that spanned the New Hampshire State Legislature, and the governorship of New Hampshire. As per the tests, it is said that John H. Sununu has an IQ of 176.
34. Jacob Barnett: IQ 170
Jason, with a high IQ of 170, learnt advanced calculus, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in merely a week's time and astonished university professors with some of the most advanced concepts in mathematics while pursuing postgraduation studies. At just 12 years old, Jacob had his first research paper published in the journal Physical Review A. Jacob's mathematical insights and problem-solving abilities captured attention from around the globe, and at such an early age opened many doors to Jacob academically.
35. Judit Polgár: IQ 170
Polgar was a child genius, becoming a Hungarian grandmaster at a young age, and was the only chess player in the World Chess Federation’s Top 100 Players list. Her score in the IQ test is 170. Polgár became a Grandmaster in 1991 at the age of 15, at that time the youngest person to receive the title, which was previously held by former World Champion Bobby Fischer. Polgár is the only woman to be a serious candidate for the World Chess Championship, which she qualified for in 2005, and she had previously participated in major world championship qualifying events.
36. John Quincy Adams: IQ 165–175
John Quincy Adams, the son of the U.S. president was also elected as a president. He is a famous lawyer and had scored between 165 and 175 in the IQ test conducted to measure the intelligence. His management skills between his responsibilities, interests and professional life motivates many people.
37. Fabiola Mann: IQ 162
Fabiola Mann enjoyed playing chess, and had a hope to continue her studies in medical domain and become a surgeon. She was considered as one of the most intelligent person as a teenager. She went through the IQ test for intelligence measurement and scored 162. She is a one of the most smartest person who had great scores in IQ tests.
38. Nikola Tesla: IQ 160–310
Nikola Tesla stands out among those regarded as among the greatest intellects in history for his exceptional electrical engineering inventions and discoveries. His IQ score is calculated and sdaid to be over 160. He is recognized as one of the most significant contributors to the history of electricity. He had many contributions in the field of electricity, including developing alternating AC electricity, which is the form of electricity we use currently. Tesla also invented the Tesla coil, which generates high-voltage, low-current electricity. Tesla's work on AC electricity was unprecedented.
39. René Descartes: IQ 160–180
René Descartes was a French philosopher, scientist, mathematician and metaphysician. His IQ test showed that in estimated scores, it was anywhere between 160 and 180. He is widely known as an important player in the emergence of modern philosophy and science. Mathematics was primary and he connected the formerly separate fields of geometry and algebra into what he called analytic geometry.
40. Ada Lovelace: IQ 160
An analyst and metaphysician, Lovelace is best remembered today because of her contributions to scientific computing. She is considered to be the first to realize that, beyond mathematical equations, computers could eventually have various other uses. She passed away before the IQ tests were introduced, but her IQ score is evaluated to be around 160.
41. Stephen Hawking: IQ 160
Stephen Hawking was a famous theoretical physicist cosmologist and author from England, who was director of research in the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge who overcame physical challenges to explore the mysteries of the universe His IQ is considered to be over 160.
42. Nicolaus Copernicus: IQ 160
He was a mathematician who was also an astronomer of German nationality. Nicolaus' IQ was somewhere near 160, and the heliocentric model of the universe was his major contribution. He also developed other economic concepts and principles such as the quantity theory of money and Gresham's law.
43. Margaret Mead: IQ: 155+
Margaret Mead is a cultural anthropologist whose research is in-depth on human societies and gender roles. His intelligence can surpass an IQ score of 155.
44. Albert Einstein: IQ 160
One of the most well-known scientists in history who has made a name for himself is Albert Einstein, whose contribution to physics began with his theory of relativity. It is estimated he may have had an IQ near 160. .
45. Mahatma Gandhi: IQ: 135+
Mahatma Gandhi was the intellectual leader in the Indian independence movement with a philosophy of nonviolence that still has resonance today. IQ tests were not in existence but were later researched about his score. The range of IQ might be above 135.
46. Martin Luther King Jr: IQ: 125+
Through the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. within the civil rights movement. His intelligence was calculated as he had an IQ of more than 125.
47. Richard Feynman: IQ: 125+
Richard Feynman, one of the great theoretical physicists, made great contributions to quantum mechanics and particle physics. His intelligence is calculated with the help of IQ tests and his score of 125.
48. Jane Goodall: IQ: 140+
Jane Goodall is a well-known primatologist and conservationist with extraordinary intelligence.She is reputed to have an IQ of over 140.
49. Susan Sontag (IQ: 140+):
Susan Sontag is a multitasker and could function as a writer, philosopher, and activist, evidencing alarmingly sharp intelligence in her cultural criticism and literature. Her IQ is above 140.
50. Linus Pauling (IQ: 160+):
Linus Pauling, an American chemist and peace activist, is one of those few people who has received Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Peace for his deserving contributions.
There are numerous individuals with amazing intellects who have reshaped our understanding of the universe in different aspects, calculating human knowledge, and contributed to various fields of study and life. While finalising the rank of smartest people based on IQ, here are 50 individuals who showcase extraordinary intellectual capacity and achievements that continue to inspire the generations.