The Highest IQs On Record

These smartest people were picked based on their IQ (Intelligence quotient) test. IQ, is a score derived from one of several different standardized tests designed to assess intelligence. The purpose of the test is measure the mental ability and horse power of the brain for any person. I have noticed that many of these people are Chess players and champions. I don’t know if there is any link between intelligence and chess, but this is my observations. Many of my resources confirmed the name and the IQ score for each of the people on the list. There were couple of other names with high IQ score but I couldn’t really confirm that 100%. Note: All these people are still alive as of 2010. IQ scores reflect general capacity for performing intellectual tasks, such as solving verbal and mathematical problems.

The average IQ score is 100.  The standard deviation of IQ scores is 15.  So, this means:

• 50% of people have IQ scores between 90 and 110
• 2.5% of people are very superior in intelligence (over 130)
• 2.5% of people are mentally deficient / impaired / retarded (under 70)
• 0.5% of people are near genius or genius (over 140)

Genius IQ is generally considered to begin around 140 to 145, representing ~.25% of the population (1 in 400). Here’s a rough guide:

• 115-124 – Above average (e.g., university students)
• 125-134 – Gifted (e.g., post-graduate students)
• 135-144 – Highly gifted (e.g., intellectuals)
• 145-154 – Genius (e.g., professors)
• 155-164 – Genius (e.g., Nobel Prize winners)
• 165-179 – High genius
• 180-200 – Highest genius
• >200 – “Unmeasurable genius”

So, here is what I came up with. Please comment of you have any suggestions.

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