There's no single "youngest smartest person" because intelligence is complex, but recent examples include Joseph Harris-Birtill (UK) and Isla McNabb (USA), who became Mensa's youngest members at around age two, while historical figures like William James Sidis and Kim Ung-yong showcased extraordinary early intellect, with Kim solving calculus on TV at age 5. Defining "smartest" is difficult, but these individuals demonstrate exceptional cognitive abilities from a very young age.
At just 2 years and 182 days old, Joseph Harris-Birtill has become the youngest member ever accepted into Mensa, the prestigious high-IQ society. While most toddlers are learning colors and basic speech, Joseph is reading full books aloud, exploring the periodic table, and decoding Morse code.
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.
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.
By: Asal Taheri. Elon Musk is not just a name but a phenomenon that sparks both admiration and controversy. From his early days as a child prodigy in South Africa to becoming the architect of a future where humanity could thrive on Mars, Musk's life is a thrilling saga of ambition and audacity.
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.
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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.
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Gifted characteristics can often be seen at an early age and may include:
The reason for the higher IQ in eldest children, researchers say, is because parents tend to take more time developing the child's thinking skills but then become more laid back with other children once they feel they have the hang of parenting.
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.
In 2023, Isla McNabb from Kentucky was welcomed into Mensa at 2 years and 195 days, after her intelligence was estimated to be in the 99th percentile.
Gifted young children pay a lot of attention when you read to them, and when they get the chance, like to turn pages of the books they are holding. They are very active and can be restless. By age 18 months or before, they like to play with shapes. They start to say two-word phrases.
NOSY babies have generally just discovered that there is a world out there behind them, and they would very much like to be a part of it. It is often a factor in 'turning babies around' – whether in pushchairs, carrying in arms, or in carriers to assume a Front Facing Out position.
It's True: Ultrasound imaging of babies in the womb suggests that 28-week-old babies can silently “cry” in response to a noise. To further investigate this, researchers played 90 different sounds via a speaker placed on the abdomen of pregnant women and recorded the reactions using an ultrasound scan.
Kanye West (Ye) publicly claimed to have a 142 IQ in an April 2025 social media post, a score he stated meant he had a "genius intellect," though this remains an unverified, self-proclaimed figure not supported by official test results. While supporters praised the claim, many questioned its accuracy, and there's no official, independently verified IQ score for him, with intelligence being a multifaceted concept beyond a single number.
According to the recent reports, YoungHoon Kim, South Korea, has the highest recorded IQ as of 2024, with a score of 276. His intelligence has been verified by various organizations, including the Giga Society and the World Genius Directory.
"I was the dūmbest student in my class, I mean I graduated with straight Cs." __ Snoop Dogg "I was shocked when I did an IQ test and scored 147. People now call me a certified genius but when I was in school, I didn't know anything.
What about kids, can they join? Yes! We have members who range in age from 3 to 105 — kids can absolutely qualify and join. We invite gifted youth between 14 and 18 to take one of our supervised, standardized tests, and those under 14 are encouraged to submit evidence of past testing.
MA = 5 years. ( ∴ I Q = 5 4 × 100 ) IQ = 125.