The world's highest IQs
The IQ Blog is The World’s smartest blog™, and has listed the world’s highest IQs. Anyone with a reported IQ score can be listed on this page (apply for listing). From here, we selectively curate The Hall of Fame of IQ.
The Highest IQs In The World Ranking
191 Marilyn vos Savant, Mega Society qualifier, Guinness World Record for the “Highest IQ” etc.
190 Cavan Cohoes, Mega Society qualifier, mathematician, pilot, ex pro-athlete etc.
187 Ed Thorpe, Mega Society qualifier, pioneered arbitrage, mathematics professor etc.
185 Solomon W. Golomb, Mega Society qualifier, space pioneer, Franklin medal recipient etc.
184 Dr. Paul Johns, the youngest ever to have qualified for the Mega Society, physician.
184 Jonas Fischerström, financial guru with unprecedented achievements in Sweden.
181 John H. Sununu, Mega Society qualifier, former White House Chief of Staff etc.
180 Wu Meiheng/Mahir Wu, known for achieving top scores on difficult HRT.
180 Fengzhi Wu, MIT PhD, known for achieving top scores on IQ tests.
179 Sabrina Pasterski, built airplane by age 16, 5.0/5.0 GPA from MIT, PhD from Harvard etc.
177 Georg Wikman, Mega Society qualifier, inventor etc.
177 Ruth Lawrence, mathematics professor, equipped for advanced IQ problem-solving.
176 Mislav Predavec, mathematics professor, with IQ high scores on multiple non-trivial HRT.
175 Laura N. Kochen, Executive Manager of Elliot & Gibbs Co.
172 Andreas Gunnarsson, qualified for the original Giga Society founded by Paul Cooijmans
172 Dr. Benoit Desjardins, Mega Society qualifier, physician and computer scientist.
171 Johan Oldhoff, Mega Society qualifier, polyglot etc.
168 Rick Rosner, Mega Society qualifier, Emmy-nominated etc.
167 Andreas Hurtig, Mega Society qualifier, business owner etc.
163 Fredrik Ullén, Professor, concert pianist, director at the Max Planck Institute etc.
Christopher Langan/Chris Langan qualified for the Mega Society after a second submission, failing under the fake name “Eric Hart” on his first attempt. YoungHoon Kim, also known as Bryan Kim, is said to have qualified, but is also said to have been expelled.
IQ, like many other things, is not a complete and all-encompassing science. However, measuring IQ can be valuable, e.g., in assessing work capacity and as a tool to discern or indicate the ability for thinking and analysis. Whatever the result on paper, well-constructed HRTs often demand non-trivial problem-solving beyond the level of traditional academics. Conversely, academia may require resilience in social skills, teamwork, and particular ways of thinking.
Thus, IQ is not necessarily the same as having good grades, being wealthy, or “being successful” in other domains. In addition to one’s abilities, goals, drive, but also norms and other external circumstances, play a role. The more bad luck and unfavorable norms you face, the more you may have to rely on various skills and abilities, where intelligence is one of them.
Page updated 2025-12-31