There's no single "smartest person" as intelligence varies, but prominent contenders often cited for high IQs or achievements include Terence Tao (mathematician, Fields Medalist), Marilyn vos Savant (Guinness record holder), Christopher Langan, and historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein, with some IQ estimates for the latter reaching 160+.
Top 10 Most Intelligent People On Earth
Humans and chimps share a surprising 98.8% of their DNA. They are our closest living relatives and considered by most scientists to be the second most intelligent species on Earth, behind humans. Research on chimpanzees has estimated their IQ between 20 and 25, around the average for a human toddler.
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.
Snoop Dogg has claimed to have an IQ of 147, a score he revealed on Instagram, which classifies as "highly gifted" or genius level, despite graduating high school with straight C's and considering himself a poor student. While the exact test isn't verified, he has expressed surprise at his own high score, contrasting it with his academic struggles, but acknowledges his brilliance in music and business, notes Esquire Australia and Brainmanager.io.
A 72 IQ is considered Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF), falling just above the threshold for intellectual disability (usually around 70), placing it in the lower end of the spectrum (70-79) and indicating slower learning and potential needs for support in daily living, though it's not low enough for an official intellectual disability diagnosis by itself, notes Quora user. It's in the bottom few percentiles of the population, requiring more time to grasp complex concepts but not necessarily severe impairment.
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.
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.
Matt Damon's IQ is widely reported as being very high, with many sources citing figures around 160, placing him in the genius category, though some reports mention figures like 143 or 150, with 160 being the most common estimate, despite him dropping out of Harvard. He demonstrated significant intelligence by writing the script for Good Will Hunting for a Harvard playwriting class.
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.
No, an IQ of 97 is not considered dumb; it falls squarely in the average range (90-109), indicating typical cognitive abilities, though some tests might place it slightly below the exact midpoint of 100. An IQ score of 97 means you performed better than 42% of people, and due to the test's margin of error, your score could be anywhere from the high 80s to the mid-100s, still within normal intelligence.
Albert Einstein never took an official IQ test, so his score is an estimate, but most sources place it around 160, considered genius level, though some believe it could have been higher. This figure is based on his revolutionary scientific achievements, like the theory of relativity, rather than a standardized test. IQ tests from his era weren't as developed, and his unique thinking style makes accurate modern comparison difficult.
Reported to have an IQ score of 195, Christopher Michael Langan is often considered one of the smartest people alive. The controversial figure has often sided with conspiracy theories and claims that the existence of God can be proven by mathematics.
Is Being a Genius Inherited?/Heritability of IQ. According to studies, genetics can drive anywhere between 30-75% of the variations in people's IQ levels. However, certain environmental factors and socioeconomic status can prevent a person from achieving their true genetic potential of IQ levels.
🧠 New research shows the smartest age in life is 55 to 60 – not in your 20s. While youth is often seen as the peak of brainpower, science now suggests the smartest age in life may actually be between 55 and 60.
Some mental skills are sharpest at different ages, with many not peaking until age 40 or later. Short-term memory is strongest at age 25, stays steady until 35, and then starts to decline. Emotional understanding peaks during middle age, while vocabulary and crystallized intelligence peak in the 60s and 70s.
How to Change Your IQ. There are some factors that influence intelligence that cannot be modified, such as genetics. However, there are other contributing factors that can be controlled and could foster development of better cognitive function, including education, home environment, nutrition, parenting style, and more ...
After the test scores are calculated for every participant, an average of these scores is calculated for the 2 focus groups, shown in Table IV. From Table IV we can see that the average score of the millennial groups is 99.24 and the average score of the gen-z group is 101.03, the difference being 1.79 points.
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.
Contrary to what the news media was lifting out of his latest book — and out of context — Stephen Hawking did not denounce God, nor does he claim to have proven that God does not exist.
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.
To calculate IQ, take a person's mental age, divide it by chronological age, and then multiply that number by 100. For example, if a person has a mental age of 12 but is 10 years old, then you'd divide 12 by 10, and multiply that number by 100, which would result in an IQ of 120.
Slowness learning to talk, or continued difficulties with speech and language skills after starting to talk. Difficulty with self-help and self-care skills (e.g., getting dressed, washing, and feeding themselves) Poor planning or problem-solving abilities. Behavioral and social problems.
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