The world's highest IQs Hall of Fame
The IQ blog is The World’s smartest blog™, and has listed the world’s highest IQs. What differs the IQ’s Hall of Fame page from the ranking page is that whilst the ranking page is based on reported IQ scores with some few estimates, the IQ’s Hall of Fame page is based on both clinically administered tests, HRT and other cognitively loaded achievements that are extremely rare, requiring a deviating level of intelligence, and can strengthen a rarity on the IQ scale, i.e., almost exclusively in combination with a verified IQ result. The order in which names are listed may therefore differ.
From the ranking page we will curate and update the IQ’s Hall of Fame.
IQ’s Hall of Fame
Ed Thorpe, IQ 185–190+, qualified for the Mega Society, proved mathematically that blackjack could be beaten by card counting and popularized how to “beat the house”, college mathematics professor, hedge fund founder, co-inventor of the first wearable computer along with Claude Shannon, pioneered the use of quantitative investment techniques in the financial markets (Option Arbitrage, Warrant Modeling, Convertible Arbitrage, Index Arbitrage and Statistical Arbitrage).
Marilyn vos Savant, IQ 185–190+, qualified for the Mega Society, magazine columnist with the highest recorded intelligence quotient (IQ) in the Guinness Book of Records, popularized the Monty Hall problem in 1990.
Cavan Cohoes, IQ 185–190+, qualified for the Mega Society, mathematician, pilot, ex pro-athlete, instrumentalist, have a knack for drawing etc.
Solomon W. Golomb, IQ 180–185+, qualified for the Mega Society, mathematician, Franklin medal recipient, space communications pioneer, founder of the precursor to Tetris etc.
Andreas Gunnarsson, IQ 170–190, Sweden’s only member of the Giga Society (the original by Cooijmans), cryptologist. True range up to 185+.
Dr. Paul Johns, IQ 180–185+, qualified for the Mega Society according to reliable sources (also one of the youngest ever to have qualified), physician.
John H. Sununu, IQ 180-185, qualified for the Mega Society, former White House Chief of Staff, previous Governor of New Hampshire, PhD from MIT etc.
Wu Meiheng/Mahir Wu, IQ 180–185, known for achieving top scores on difficult HRT.
Fengzhi Wu, IQ 180–185, MIT PhD and known for achieving top scores on IQ tests.
Jonas Fischerström, IQ 178–185, financial guru with unprecedented performances in various fields in Sweden.
Georg Wikman, IQ 172 IQ–181, qualified for the Mega Society, mathematician, physicist, scientist and entrepreneur winning the “Life Time Award” etc.
Sabrina Pasterski, IQ 171–180, built her own airplane by 16 years of age, 5.0 GPA from MIT, PhD from Harvard, theoretical physicist.
Johan Oldhoff, IQ 171 –180, qualified for the Mega Society, polyglot etc.
Ruth Lawrence, IQ 175–180, mathematics professor, intellectually equipped for advanced IQ problem-solving.
Mislav Predavec, IQ 170–180, mathematics professor, with IQ high scores on multiple non-trivial HRT.
Laura N. Kochen, IQ 175–180, Executive Manager of Elliot & Gibbs Co.
Dr. Benoit Desjardins, IQ 170–175+, qualified for the Mega Society, physician and computer scientist.
Rick Rosner, IQ 167–175+, qualified for the Mega Society, Emmy-nominated American television writer and reality television personality, ex bouncer, ex male stripper. One of the most well-known high IQ profiles, deserving a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Fredrik Ullén, IQ 153–169, professor at Karolinska Institutet, concert pianist, director at the Max Planck Institute, member of Prometheus Society (fell just short of the cutoff for the Mega Society)
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.
When we look at the IQ elite, there is a small number of individuals who, alternating depending on e.g. test and day-to-day performance, can be regarded as the person with the world’s highest IQ.
We would love to hear your suggestions of people whom we can assess to see if they belong on in the IQ’s Hall of Fame or for a more comprehensive compilation. Being a member of Mensa is not enough. Admission there only requires the 98th percentile — that is, 1 in 50 qualifies. For perspective, it is 20 times harder to reach the admission threshold for the Triple Nine Society (99.9th percentile) and 20,000 times harder to be admitted to the Mega Society (99.9999th percentile).
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 addition to one’s abilities, goals, drive, but also prevailing 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