The other day I sat down to watch The Princess Bride for about the 10,000th time. Man that is a great movie! Anyway, when I was watching the part where Vizzini, the Sicilian, was answering the question as to how smart he is, he said:
“Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates? Morons.”
So, I decided to mosey on over to the Interwebs and find a list of people with the highest IQ ever measured, and lo and behold I couldn’t find one! So for the sake of future searchers, I compiled the following information. Enjoy.
Background Info
In order to establish a baseline knowledge, IQ (intelligence quotient) is a score derived from attempting to measure the actual mental horsepower of any given individual. Personally I place little value in IQ tests, but I do acknowledge that they are an indicator of some common potential success factors, so we’ll leave it at that.
The “average” IQ is by definition 100, so if you score below that you are dumber than average, and above it means smarter than average.
Commonly acknowledged IQ Score Ranking System:
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 The distribution of IQ scores is as follows:
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I’d like to stop for a second and inject a little philosophy before we go on. I have absolutely no respect whatsoever for intelligence. I only respect people for their actions. So no one should envy or emulate people on the list that follow because some of them are miserable human beings (like this narcissistic guy). Take Bobby Fischer as an example. He’s the biggest A-hole on the list, and I’d like to kick his teeth in for his comments about Jews and America.
The Highest IQs On Record
People Still Alive
- Physicist / Engineer Kim Ung-yong has a verified IQ of 210
- Bouncer Christopher Michael Langan has a verified IQ of 195
- Engineer Philip Emeagwali is alleged to have an IQ of 190
- World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov is alleged to have an IQ of 190
- Author Marilyn Vos Savant has a verified IQ of 186
- Actor James Woods is alleged to have an IQ of 180
- Politician John H. Sununu is alleged to have an IQ of 180
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is alleged to have an IQ of 180
- Mathematician Andrew Wiles is alleged to have an IQ of 170
- World Chess Champion Judith Polgar is alleged to have an IQ of 170
- Chess Grandmaster Robert Byrne is alleged to have an IQ of 170
- World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer is alleged to have an IQ of 167
- Mathematician / Physicist Stephen W. Hawking is alleged to have an IQ of over 160
- Microsoft Founder Paul Allen is alleged to have an IQ of over 160
- Actress Sharon Stone is alleged to have an IQ of 154
From the Past
In 1926, psychologist Dr. Catherine Morris Cox – who had been assisted by Dr. Lewis M. Terman, Dr. Florence L. Goodenaugh, and Dr. Kate Gordon – published a study “of the most eminent men and women” who had lived between 1450 and 1850 to estimate what their IQs might have been. Data from that study as well as other sources around the net were compiled to form the following list. Please drop me a comment if you have additions or corrections (make sure and cite sources).
Also, see Wikipedia’s list of Universal Genius (Polymaths).
Test YOUR IQ
Now that you’ve read all about these really smart people, surely you want to know how you compare? Well, set aside a full 40 minutes and go through this test to determine where you are on the evolutionary chain.
Select the image below and the clock starts when the test loads, so be prepared in order to get the full 40 minutes. Trust me, you’re gonna need it! Oh, and if you answer “A” on every question, you get a 72! (a=72, b=65, c=65, d=65, e=72, f=72, g= 65, and h=65 – Only The Man would help you cheat on an IQ test!)
EDIT: I received the following e-mail from Mike, a former school psychologist of 30 years, regarding the validity of this IQ Test:
…one of the better and possibly fairly accurate IQ tests (11/8/07) seen on the net. Two caveats:
1. This test evaluates visual spatial reasoning skills, and not verbal which some may say would be a bias toward guys.
2. This test does not assess processing speed and ability to make quick/accurate and perhaps more c creative choices.For different view of intelligence away from IQ try: Theory of Multiple Intelligences
If it turns out you are a Genius, join a club! Here’s how to hook up with your intellectual peers:
- The Genius Society
- Mensa International
- International High IQ Society
- Poetic Genius Society
- The Mega Society
- The Triple Nine Society
By the way, why is it that most of the high IQ society Web sites suck so bad? And if I may inquire additionally, why is it that none of them have sections on their sites where they are actually teaching people by translating highly complex issues into understandable language?
Now, for the rest of us (I score just above a moderately intelligent canine, but just below a porpoise), you can just join the One Man’s Blog Society for the Incredibly Average. Believe me, we have a lot more fun around here.
I took this test quickly at work. Completed it in a little over 10 minutes. (dont wanna get caught goofing off ) :). scored a 122, think i could do better taking my time with a pen and paper but im still happy with that “Very Superior Intelligence” score :)
I ave fund that By tking these tests and sckring very low I am eleigibly for governt assistances. Smrt peple nevr get this usistnace. Thaz weh they have nu muny.
Lowest IQ everenecne
me
u make me fell stipid. how can u be so samrt and not care anbot is not so smrt/. I wish I was smart lwek yuse.
lol, Superior intellect really got you a great job; working in an office. Iq tests are nonsense, the fact that people can improve their scores through practice demonstrates that if someone were to have more exposure to IQ like problems before taking the test, it could have huge affects on their scores.
You’re right. No test can accurately measure how “intelligent” a person is and there are a lot of factors that can contribute someone to get higher or lower score. Anyway, I haven’t taken it yet… I hope I don’t find myself as a dumb after finishing it, I surely couldn’t overcome for a while XD
Who said working in an office is a great job? I am a CPA and have an MBA, and I hate working in an office. It’s boring and the computer glare is killing my eyesight. I love it when I have to travel because I get to meet and engage other people outside the darn office. I guess it depends on who you ask.
no one got a 199 or 165… if you do the test the highest you can get is “above end 160″ with a standard deviation of 24.
and also once you hit around 15 your not going to increase your iq score by very much. iq cannot be increased by reading or studying, its all about relationships and fluid intelligence. the only thing you can really work on is concentrating better…
im 16 and i got “above end 160″ with a standard deviation of 24. evidently I’m smarter than George Washington, which I do not believe to be true in the slightest. But even if I was, he was not the man we know today because of his iq. He is the first leader of our country because he fought for his beliefs, was true to his cause and hard working. He also had great confidence, which is why people had no problem putting their trust in him in their time of need. If you do not have an iq of 180 it does not mean that you cannot change the world, it simply means you had to work harder to get to the point where you can change the world, and will end up being a greater leader (because of character and experience) than someone who rides through life on the coattails of a lucky break.
meant that as a post… obviously my computer skills could use an iq boost as well :P
your the smartest sounding person on here, great observation on Mr. Washington.
If you rushed through it like that I have to think that you would be able to improve by at least 5 points just by taking your time. Though I’m not sure it’s valid to take the same exact test twice because of the whole knowing the answers thing in advance. :-)
It would be funny if someone were to take this test like 5 times in a row to see how high they could ultimately get though.
John
i took one of these and am proud to say i got 133!
yea, that would be cool. but i didnt notice, if i did say, which ones i got right and which i got wrong. So retaking it wouldnt be too bad ;)
I was surprised to see James Woods so high up there. Ive alway heard how smart he was, and i know he’s gotten in hold em poker big time latey (and supposedly he’s really good at it). But i guess i just dismissed it as media hype since he’s an actor.
I got 133 and I think I understand each question can’t really tell why could I be wrong at any, as I understand each one of it. I think they are wrigth, I love puzzles I’ve never consider me super smart or anithing. I write music so easily without ever studing music, as many other things I’ve achieved by my self so I wanted to see if there was something different about me and it seems I’m a little bit different, so I suggest to every one to do what you really enjoy be passionate about it, I’m pretty shure that this test can’t measure not even a bit of our potencial. I’m Mexican by the way :P greetings!!!
It is really bothering me seeing all these people saying they have scores such as yours, 133, and your spelling of many words through this are ridiculously misspelled. It is disgusting. Either this test is bull or you are lying.
i think it’s both.
Grammar has absolutely nothing to do with this test! Einstein had speech disabilities. So… That is why people with your IQ are never taken serious. The crazy thing im going to tell you is over 23 million adults in USA have some form of illiteracy.
i had to take a special test with a psychologist when I was 6 years old and whatever crazy potential I was diagnosed with, I am still a terrible speller. Why? Because I never put any effort in spelling. Spelling is realy only memorization, which believe it or not, is not a big deal IQ tests if you never made the effort. Some of the greatest composers had very high IQs. Music does not have much to do with spelling and so my point being, spelling has practicly nothing to do with IQ.
Spelling is not merely memorization. A lot of it has to do with your knowledge of grammar rules and how easily you can pick up on the subtle nuances of different words, as it applies to not only spelling but also how the words are arranged into meaningful sentences.
The doctor in the e-mail said one of the weaknesses of the test was that it tested only visual spatial reasoning skills and not verbal, which is a very big thing to leave out. As a young kid, I picked up very quickly on subtle nuances of language and verbal skills, and I was very good at spelling. Taking this into account, I think this test is biased against me because of my excellent understanding of the English language and the ability to understand and form meaningful sentences. I have also been told I am good at catching on in other languages, although I have only really tried one, German.
My score was originallly 122 with a std. dev. of 24, but that was without finishing the test. Once I took the test over, marking the same answers as I did last time, except more speedily and finally finishing the last few questions (I think 4), I got a 143 with a std. dev. of 24 but 129 with a std. dev. of 16. This is closer to my other IQ scores, which have been about 130. Keep in mind that I don’t necessarily believe that IQ is an accurate measurement of overall intelligence. It only tests people in a very limited number of ways. I tend to think the multiple intelligences theory is more closely in line with the better way of understanding intelligence.
Anna,
I had a similar situation growing up. I was given a test around the same age by the NY department of education and scored very high, i went through GATE (Gifted And Talented Education) as a child and high level classes for the rest of my schooling. Grammer and spelling have never really been my strong point, but have always tested very high in all other areas.
Or perhaps the fact that he’s a Mexican should’ve tipped you off that he’s not a native speaker. If he’d written in Mexican I’m sure the spelling & grammar would be better.
“written in Mexican”
It’s called Spanish, but you’re otherwise correct.
Just because he can’t spell very well, doesn’t mean he has to have a particularly low IQ.
Einstein had an IQ of around 160, and he couldn’t spell very well at all. He was dyslexic.
So don’t be foul and make people feel stupid just for the sake of it. What’s the point?
Albert Einstein was not dyslexic, this is a common historical accuracy just like the myth that he failed maths in high school.
The test isn’t accurate. I got a score of 140+ without cheating, and I’m fairly certain I’m not that intelligent. Most people can get a good score if they take their time. (So you aren’t different after all.)
Oh and it bothers me when people brag about things like this and feel proud of themselves for it. And also when they’re arrogant about it.
You are right. I took a test at a Coutts Outplacement Agency conducted by a professor of psychology and score well at 153. One area on its own placed me in a genius category. I told one person, an old work associate, and immediatelt felt as though I was bragging. People I currently know have no idea I have that IQ level and I feel it is best I keep quiet about it.
@billtboy, I know the feeling. At 7 years of age, my brother and I were part of psych class study that our father was assisting with. While we both scored high, I know that I have lost about 24 points over the 35 years between tests. and scored just 2 points higher than yours :( Does this mean I am getting more stupid with age? Although to be fair, I do math type puzzles and crypto-type puzzles in my spare time. I never got a degree because I have no drive, but people around me keep trying to push me to get one. It is just not me. Having said that, I can do anything I set my mind to, from cooking and designing clothes and sewing them, to electronics, engineering design mechanical skills, although I tend to try for perfection and tend to get too focused on the problems, to the exclusion of eating and sleeping (am I a bit anal about it? probably). Same for reading and all the errors people make in papers and magazines, let the ones in books. What is needed is a test for potential (a “drive” test?). Who knows? That is for those smarter than me :)
IQ does not neceassarily mean you are inteligent, it just indicates the capacity at which your brain can learn, or process information, which consequentially is directly proportional with the speed at which your brain learns. I’m 9 and my IQ is 166
The test score is fake. Obviously 133 is a result common to all who have done :)))
It might have been a joke. :P
It’s like being smart is a disease, an affliction. You know, when our kids are in the gifted programs at school – they are actually a part of the special education program. That’s not exactly such a far cry from the truth. I have a few uber smart people in my life, and being so smart has presented many challenges for them. I used to be so jealous, but, now I’m happy as a peach in the Average Club!!!
We can’t go looking down on the idea of extreme intelligence, that’s a direct invitation to the dumbing down process.
I will try to respond in as polite a way as my emotions shall permit. First off, “being smart” isn’t a disease. Having a high IQ doesn’t mean one is “smart” and is something you are born with or without. I too know plenty of “uber smart” people and a few are seriously lacking in the social skills department (though this might be indirectly related as from a psychological perspective their high IQ parents might have been to freaking cocky about everything they did which rubbed off and I’m gonna end this tangent here). But I myself (well above genious) can converse with anyone I meet, have plenty of friends I regularly hang out with, and still maintain A’s easily in my all-honors classes. I am “smart” SOCIALLY in that way. Also, though I may have been in a “special education program”, it is only called this because it is education created for out-of-the-ordinary people. Those that should not be taught via conventional standards. (This applies to children who cannot learn in a normal class setting because of emotional disorders and those that learn everything instantly, becoming bored, losing interest, and entering a domino effect-like state of not feeling engaged which leads to them becoming trash men.) Please, think before you post and called those of us that are intelligent sick and special ed kids.
Wow, an awful lot of claimed “geniouses” in this comment section don’t know how to spell! How is it that you’re a genius and can’t even spell the word “genius”, Jackson P? It’s a pretty simple word. Perhaps those of us with mere average intelligence should think before we post and not “called” those of you who are geniuses (, “) sick and special ed kids (“) simply because you don’t know your tenses. As an example, I’m sure you thought to check spelling and grammar before you posted, correct? So there won’t be any excuses coming like, “Well, those are just typos.” But anyway, can we still mock your obvious false claim to “genius” some other way? Maybe something less insulting?
I take these tests once or twice a year for the fun of it. My scores are always worse than the last one.
I wonder how Kim Peek would measure up to all of these people if they could find a way to accurately test his IQ. Is knowledge intelligence? Would Kim Peek even be a candidate for this list if the knowledge known has to be fully applied (as in using the knowledge in engineering, etc..)?
You don’t know reading a page of web ? Swedenborg = 205 IQ
Hi
Could anyone please tell me what’s the meaning of different results of the test?
I’ve just take the test, and I don’t understand whats the meaning of: Above end 140, above end 130 above 160 which appeared as my results according to different deviations..
Thanks
That’s part of the test.
It means you’re probably lying about your results, or this is your first atempt to do an IQ test, but you would have realised that your result mean you’re a bit past the level of genius and need a special test for a more acurate score
My score always varies wildly with these online quizzes (from 110 to 155), while the test I took when I was in grade school put me at 143. Isn’t the reasoning as to how one arrives at an answer more important than an answer? Shouldn’t that be what IQ measures?
I thought that test was very much slanted to people who think well in spatial relations. I scored a 99th percentile in Spatial Relations on the ACT test back in the day and a 25th percentile for Clerical Speed and Accuracy. Someone like me would do well on this test but would look mentally challenged on other tests. I got through this test in under 15 minutes and scored high but sub-mensa which is a good thing based on my boyhood chess heroes life.