Top 10 Most Intelligent Peoples with Highest IQ in the World

Intelligence demonstrates itself in a variety of ways. You might have heard about Terence Tao, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Marie Curie, some of the smartest people ever. Each intelligent individual had a unique life narration and contributed significantly to the world. However, there are some characteristics that almost all smartest people in history share.

It’s difficult to objectively assess a person’s intelligence or determine who has the highest IQ? Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, for example, lived long before IQ tests were invented, so his IQ is off the charts. However, given his enormous advances in physics and mathematics, we can assume Isaac Newton’s IQ might be high. So, does having a high IQ make someone smart? Whether it’s more about accomplishments or not is a debate that will almost certainly never end.

Most Intelligent People In The World (December 2024 List)

Below, we have gathered a list of ten people who no one would ever deny are not deserving the title of “smartest.” Scroll down and find who is the no 1 IQ person?

1. Terence Tao

IQ Level: 225 – 230

Terence Tao

Terrence Tao is the smartest person to ever live, with an IQ of 230. His high IQ distinguishes him as the world’s smartest man. After grasping math’s basic concepts at the age of two, this Australian-born mathematician became UCLA’s youngest ever professor at the age of 24 and the world’s smartest man. He claims that Sesame Street’s popular television show sparked his interest in mathematics. Tao earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree instead of graduating from high school at the age of 16, as most of his peers did.

He has written over 250 research papers and received numerous awards, including the Salem Prize, Clay Research Award, and Australian of the Year. So, there is no doubt that Terence Tao is the most intelligent person in history.

2. Christopher Hirata

IQ Level: 225

Christopher Hirata

Christopher Hirata has been ranked second among people with the highest IQs in history. At 32, he has already established himself as an astrophysics professor at the California Institute of Technology. He’s already accomplished a lot in his life, having earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University and completed college-level physics and math courses by 12.

He began working for NASA on a project to reach Mars when he was only 16 years old. Christopher is ranked high on the list of intellectual people due to his significant contribution.

3. Kim Ung-Yong

IQ Level: 210

Kim Ung-Yong

Another prominent name on the list of geniuses is Kim Ung-Yong. It’s no wonder that this Korean child genius has such a high IQ, given that he was six months old when he first learned to speak.

He could speak and read in various languages by the age of three when most other children are only beginning to read in their native tongue. He could speak and read Korean, Japanese, English, and other languages. As an adult, he has turned his incredible intelligence into a career as a civil engineer.

He has been an adjunct professor at Chungbuk National University since 2007. His higher IQ helped him to rank among the most intelligent people.

4. Christopher Michael Langan

IQ Level: 195-210

Christopher Michael Langan

Christopher Michael Langan was one of the geniuses in history who has been designated “the smartest man in America” by the media due to his IQ between 195 and 210. His struggles in life only add to his accomplishments, particularly his perfect SAT score despite taking a nap halfway through. He claims he lived a double life for years, doing manual labor during the day and analyzing complex calculations in his head at night.

Despite developing his theory, Langan has taken on several physically demanding jobs rather than mentally demanding ones, dubbed the ‘Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe.’ He is self-taught in advanced math, Latin, and Greek, among other subjects.

5. Garry Kasparov

IQ Level: 190-194

Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov is also regarded as one of the smartest people in history. At 22, Russian Garry Kasparov, widely regarded as the greatest chess player, became the youngest person in history to win the undisputed World Chess Championship.

He went on to win numerous chess titles, including the record for the highest score ever recorded, which he carried for 14 years! This astute man has shifted his focus from chess to Russian politics and writing since retiring from the game in 2005.

6. Rick Rosner

IQ Level: 192

Rick Rosner

A high IQ is frequently linked to science, medicine, engineering, and mathematics careers. But  Rick Rosner, an American-born television writer, has completely broken the norm. That isn’t all, though. If you glance at his list of accomplishments, you’ll notice that he’s also done stripping, roller-skating working as a waiter, nude modeling, and being a bouncer. All of his accomplishments place him among the smartest people in history.

7. Marilyn Vos Savant

IQ Level: 190

Marilyn Vos Savant

Marilyn Vos Savant took an intelligence test when she was ten years old, and the results revealed that her mental age was 22 years old, more than double her actual age. On multiple IQ tests, she scored as high as 228. As the holder of the highest IQ ever, she was enlisted into the Guinness Book of World Records, though she was removed from the list a few years later after determining that the measurement was too imprecise. And since, this intelligent woman has made a name for herself as a writer and lecturer.

8. Leonardo da Vinci

IQ Level: 180-190

Leonardo da Vinci

One of the most well-known names on this list, Leonardo da Vinci was a brilliant man. Leonardo was more than a gifted painter, so he is included in the list of geniuses. Leonardo da Vinci’s IQ score was between 180 – 190. He was born in Italy in the 15th century and is widely regarded as one of history’s greatest artists, engineers, and inventors, though he also dabbled in other fields such as mathematics and botany.

His drawings and documents show Leonardo came up with ideas for machines that would not be built for hundreds of years after his death, such as flying machines and adding machines. An astonishingly intelligent man could have only accomplished this; he is one of the most multi-talented men who has ever lived.

9. James Wood

IQ Level: 180

James Wood

James Woods, the actor, is truly a gem among the smartest people in the world. Although the American actor is best known for his roles in films such as Once Upon a Time in America and Casino, few people know his intelligence. He received an incredible 779 in his SAT exams’ math section and a perfect 800 in the verbal section.

While still in high school, Woods enrolled in a linear algebra course at UCLA before accepting the full scholarship to MIT. He got a major degree in political science at MIT, demonstrating his intellectual capabilities, but he decided to drop out before getting a degree to build a career in acting.

10. Stephen Hawking

IQ Level: 160-170

Stephen Hawking

This astrophysicist is also one of the famous intelligent people. Despite suffering from depression and motor neuron disease, he was able to relaunch his academic career and is now best known for his 1988 book, A Brief History of Time. He has also initiated several theories on black holes and made numerous guest appearances on shows such as The Simpsons, Futurama, and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Final Verdict

There have been many influential geniuses throughout history who have changed the world. As IQ levels rise to new heights, it goes without saying that innovation and creativity are also improving. Because IQ testing is an inexact science, it is based on various tests and exceptional brilliance. The wisest individuals recognize that there is always something new to learn. In addition, their perspectives are more nuanced.

Frequently asked questions about the most intelligent People with Highest IQ in the World

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