There's no single "smartest person ever" as intelligence is multifaceted, but contenders often include historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein for genius across fields, alongside prodigies like William James Sidis, who had an estimated IQ of 250-300, and record-holder Marilyn vos Savant (IQ 228). Sidis, a child prodigy speaking multiple languages by age 6, and vos Savant, with the highest recorded IQ in Guinness, highlight different forms of exceptional intellect, though measuring across eras is difficult.
The highest IQ ever recorded in verified sources is attributed to Marilyn vos Savant, with an IQ score of 228 as per the Guinness World Records. Other historic high IQs include Terence Tao (225–230) and Christopher Hirata (225).
Because there is no single standardized test that measures intelligence, determining the highest IQ ever will always be contentious. Bearing these caveats in mind, it is generally believed that the highest IQ score ever recorded is that of William James Sidis, who is believed to have had an IQ of between 250 and 300.
But what you may not know is that he had an estimated IQ of 210. Over the course of his lifetime, he completed 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two narrative poems and a variety of other poems—several of which contain everyday phrases still in use today.
Stephen Hawking never officially revealed his IQ, and often dismissed the metric, famously saying, "People who boast about their IQ are losers". While estimates place his IQ around 160, a genius level, this is speculative; Hawking emphasized that creativity, persistence, and passion for science were more important than a single score, despite his profound impact on physics.
Matt Damon
The Hollywood heavyweight, who boasts an IQ of 160, famously completed the project with his longtime friend Ben Affleck.
Lady Gaga's IQ is widely rumored to be around 166, placing her in the "exceptionally gifted" or genius category, though this is an estimation often cited in celebrity lists, not a officially verified number from a public test. This high estimate is supported by her early academic achievements, like attending a summer program for the top 1% of students, and her demonstrated creative and musical genius as a composer and performer, notes Us Weekly and Brainmanager.io.
Snoop Dogg has publicly stated he has an IQ of 147, a score that falls into the "highly gifted" or "genius" category, much to his own surprise given his self-described average school performance (straight Cs). While this self-reported score suggests exceptional intellect, IQ tests measure specific cognitive abilities, and success in life and business (like Snoop Dogg's multifaceted career as a rapper, entrepreneur, and media personality) reflects a broader range of intelligence and skills.
An IQ of 72 is considered borderline intellectual functioning, falling below the average range (90-109) but not quite low enough for a diagnosis of intellectual disability (typically below 70). It signifies slower learning, potential difficulties with complex concepts, and a need for more support in daily living and academic skills, placing someone in the bottom few percentiles of the population.
Although IQ can change for an individual, across a population it is well established that IQ is stable across the lifespan. This does NOT mean that our abilities do not change as we age. IQ (as the name indicates) is a QUOTIENT, i.e., your score is calculated relative to persons of your age.
The Highest and Lowest Ranking Professions by IQ
As we might expect, cognitively demanding professions (such as physicist, lawyer, and financial manager) occupy the top spots, whereas manual and service-oriented roles cluster at the bottom.
Studies have shown that intelligence has a genetic component, but they have not conclusively identified any single genes that have major roles in differences in intelligence. It is likely that intelligence involves many genes that each make only a small contribution to a person's intelligence.
Celebrity Genius 5 - James Woods
Emmy Award winner James Woods is an Oscar-nominee and superstar has a whopping IQ of 180. While in high school, Woods was in a UCLA linear algebra course.
Leonardo da Vinci
He was a master of painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, and science. His IQ is estimated to have been between 180 and 220, which would have placed him among the most intelligent people in history.
Is Kim Kardashian's IQ really 190? No—it's a baseless rumor from unreliable sites. No verified score exists; estimates range 95–119 based on her education & career, but her actual IQ remains unknown.
Madonna reportedly has a genius-level IQ of around 140, well above the average, with sources citing her intelligence and business acumen, often linking it to her ability to recognize patterns and disrupt culture. This high score is sometimes associated with her academic achievements, like receiving a scholarship to the University of Michigan, and her remarkable career longevity, making her a highly successful artist.
Rappers IQ's, Jay Z has an IQ of 148, Kendrick Lamar has an IQ of 129, Tupac Shakur IQ is 124, Lil Wayne IQ is 120, and last is Eminem with 110 IQ. Archived post.
Quentin Tarantino reportedly has a very high estimated IQ, often cited as around 160, placing him in the genius category, despite dropping out of high school. While the specific source for his IQ score isn't always clear, it highlights his exceptional intellect, proving success can come from non-traditional education, fueled by his passion for film and history.
IQ tests are not perfect, not should they be used to create a class-ist society ruled by high testers. Paris Hilton has a 129 IQ and Andy Warhol's was 86. But who contributed more to society?
Nicole Kidman, whose shyness and stutter made her early years difficult, nevertheless showed an impressive aptitude for ballet and acting at a young age (and at one point had a reported IQ of 132).
She was a very smart girl (with an IQ of 154), became a bookworm, and once was told that a suitable job for her (and her brains) was to become a lawyer. However, her first love was still the black-and-white movies, especially those featuring.
Ben Affleck's IQ is often cited as 154, placing him in the highly gifted range, though these figures for celebrities are estimates, with some sources also mentioning high intellect in relation to his work, such as co-writing Good Will Hunting with Matt Damon.
The young member of Mensa has stated his IQ is 150. Although she first became famous for her iconic persona on TV's "Laugh-In," Goldie Hawn is nothing like the ditsy woman she portrayed. The actress is a reported member of Mensa and recently published a book on raising children.
When asked to name an established actress, Meryl Streep's pops up very frequently. With an IQ of 143, portraying the Iron Lady was not difficult for her.