Intelligence, usually measured by IQ, has fascinated us for centuries. While the concept of Intelligence Quotient and its accuracy are debatable, we can’t deny that some individuals exhibit exceptional cognitive abilities. In this article, we will highlight the lives and achievements of those believed to have the highest IQs in the world.
Marnen Laibow-Koser
IQ Score: 268
Marnen Laibow-Koser is an exceptionally talented American musician and a prodigy. He began his musical journey at three and achieved a Master of Music degree in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory. Marnen excels in multiple instruments, including the violin, piano, and guitar.
Apart from music, he is also passionate about computer science and has professional experience in web design, development, network support, and animation. He now leads a multifaceted career as a freelance music composer and web developer through his platform, Thunderbird Productions.
Ainan Celeste Cawley
IQ Score: 263
Ainan Celeste Cawley, a child prodigy from Singapore, set a world record by passing the Chemistry O-level exam at age 7. Born in 1999 to a Singaporean mother and an Irish father, Ainan exhibited exceptional intelligence early on, speaking at 9 months and reading by age 2.
He began studying chemistry at Singapore Polytechnic at age eight and delivered public lectures by age 9. Ainan is an “omnibus prodigy,” excelling in diverse fields like music, writing, and film. His IQ is reportedly around 263.
William James Sidis
IQ Score: 250-300
William James Sidis, born in 1898 in New York City, was an extraordinary intellectual prodigy. By age 5, he had mastered several languages, and at 11, he had enrolled at Harvard, where he gave a lecture on 4-dimensional physics.
Despite his early brilliance, his life was marked by controversy, particularly around his reputed IQ of 250-300, a claim made by his sister and disputed by others. Sidis’s potential was tragically underutilized due to societal pressures, and he died in obscurity at age 46. His life story is often compared to the character in “Good Will Hunting.”
Michael Kearney
IQ Score: 252
Michael Kearney, born in Hawaii in 1984, is a renowned child prodigy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at just 10, setting a Guinness World Record. His IQ was near 200 then, and later tests showed scores between 200 and 325, potentially correlating to a 252 IQ on the Stanford-Binet scale.
Kearney also holds master’s degrees in chemistry and computer science and a PhD in chemistry. He was homeschooled and diagnosed with ADHD. His academic achievements include graduating from junior college at 10 and later teaching while pursuing his PhD.
Terence Tao
IQ Score: 225-230
Considered by many to be one of the most brilliant minds of our time, Terence Tao has achieved remarkable feats in the world of mathematics. He earned a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad at just 13.
Tao earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees by 16 and his PhD from Princeton at 20. He then became a professor at UCLA, where he still teaches and researches many areas of math. Tao is famous for his work in several math fields and won the Fields Medal, a top prize in mathematics. He also runs a popular math blog.
Marilyn Vos Savant
IQ Score: 228
Marilyn Vos Savant is well-known for her exceptionally high IQ, although its accuracy has been questioned. Her score earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, although the category was later removed.
Regardless of the controversy, her “Ask Marilyn” column in Parade magazine showcased her intellect, as she adeptly answered diverse reader questions, from complex puzzles like the Monty Hall problem to everyday topics, making complex ideas understandable.
Christopher Hirata
IQ Score: 225
Christopher Hirata is a celebrated astrophysicist and cosmologist known for his exceptional intellect. Born in 1982, he achieved remarkable feats at a young age, including winning a gold medal at the International Physics Olympiad at just 13.
He began his studies at Caltech at 14 and later earned his PhD from Princeton. His research focuses on the early and late universe, including dark energy and the cosmic microwave background. Hirata has held professorships at Caltech and Ohio State University, where he currently works, and has contributed to the design of NASA telescopes. His significant contributions to astrophysics have earned him prestigious awards, including the Helen B. Warner Prize and the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
K. Visalini
IQ Score: 225
K. Visalini is a child prodigy who became the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at age 10. Born in 2000, she also holds multiple other certifications in IT and cybersecurity. She completed high school at nine and earned numerous diplomas in computer-related fields by 14, including a Cisco certification at 11.
Visalini earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from Kalasalingam University, where she was the youngest student ever admitted. She has lectured at prestigious institutions like ISRO and IITs and spoken at global events for companies like IBM and Microsoft. Currently, she heads her own company, Vika Innovations, using AI to solve real-world problems.
Kim Ung-Yong
IQ Score: 210
Kim Ung-Yong, born on March 8, 1962, in Seoul, South Korea, has an IQ score of 210. A prodigious child, he could read multiple languages and solve complex math problems by age 3. His extraordinary talents garnered international attention, including appearances on Japanese television.
Despite briefly studying in the United States, Kim returned to South Korea to continue his education, ultimately earning a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. Now a faculty member at Shinhan University, Kim has chosen a quieter life away from the public eye.
Christopher Michael Langan
IQ Score: 195
Despite a difficult upbringing, Christopher Langan is often called “the smartest man in America.” He reportedly began speaking at six months and taught himself to read at three. He even achieved a perfect SAT score despite falling asleep during the test.
Langan’s diverse work history includes stints as a construction worker, cowboy, and firefighter. Beyond his varied professions, he has developed his own “Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe” (CTMU), a complex theory attempting to unify diverse fields of knowledge. His IQ is reportedly around 195.
Adragon De Mello
IQ Score: 185
Adragon De Mello gained fame for his exceptional childhood intelligence. He began college at age eight and became the youngest American college graduate at 11, earning a degree in computational mathematics from UC Santa Cruz.
This achievement landed him in the Guinness World Records. While initially reported to have an astonishing IQ of 400, later estimates placed it closer to 185. Despite his early academic success and Mensa membership at age 5, De Mello eventually chose a more private life, stepping away from the intense pressure of his early fame and foregoing a graduate program.
Srinivasa Ramanujan
IQ Score: 185
Srinivasa Ramanujan, born in India in 1887, was a self-taught mathematical genius. Despite limited formal education, he developed his own theorems after encountering a book of mathematical results at age 15. His work focused primarily on number theory.
Ramanujan’s exceptional abilities earned him an estimated IQ of 185. His collaboration with GH Hardy at Cambridge University resulted in numerous influential publications. He is considered one of the most important mathematicians of the 20th century.
