There's no single "smartest kid in the world" because intelligence is complex, but notable prodigies include Joshua Beckford, who attended Oxford at age six; Kim Ung-Yong, with a recorded IQ over 210; and historical figures like William James Sidis, known for exceptional mathematical and linguistic skills. Many other children demonstrate genius through high IQ scores (like Rory Bidwell, 162) or expert-level performance in specific areas (math, music, coding) at very young ages, but these titles are unofficial and constantly changing as kids develop.
Meet Joshua Beckford, known as the smartest kid on Earth. At the age of six, he was and still is the youngest child in World History to attend the prestigious University of Oxford in England. Joshua excels at science, math, history and foreign languages. He's writing a children's book on ancient Egypt.
👏🏾 Declan Lopez, a six-year-old from Dover, New Jersey, has a Mensa membership and an impressive 138 IQ. Declan, a kindergartner, joined Mensa after showing exceptional intelligence, like counting in Mandarin at 18 months old.
Top 10 Most Intelligent People On Earth
Several studies suggest that eldest children tend to score slightly higher on IQ tests compared to their younger siblings. One well-known study from the University of Edinburgh found that first-borns often perform better in cognitive tasks.
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.
How to Be Smart
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 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.
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.
Meaning of IQ
85 to 115 - Two thirds of us have an IQ in this range: the 'average' IQ is 100. Over 135 - You are in the top 1%.
In psychology research literature, the term child prodigy is defined as a person under the age of ten who produces meaningful output in some domain to the level of an adult expert professional.
Gifted characteristics can often be seen at an early age and may include:
Typically, a score between 90 and 110 is considered average, while a score above 120 is deemed superior, with scores above 130 indicating giftedness. The significance of an IQ score lies in its ability to provide a snapshot of a child's cognitive abilities in relation to their peers.
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.
The IQ of an average millionaire is 117 The IQ of an average billionaire is 133 The IQ of an average deca-billionaire is 151 This shows - you gotta be intelligent to get rich!
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.
Some intelligence models and tests also include visual-spatial intelligence as a third element.
Steps
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.
Hate to spoil the fun, but a score of 1000 is not possible on any IQ test. IQ is represented by a bell curve, as follows: The mean is 100 with a standard deviation of 15.
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.