The general standard for intelligence in the world is known as the “IQ”, or intelligence quotient.
The original concept of IQ was developed by psychologist, William Stern, in a series of standardized tests that he published in 1912.The general score of 95% population from these tests ranges between 70 and 130.
Albert Einstein had an IQ level of 160-190, and although his name is synonymous with the word genius, there have been many people who have scored higher on IQ tests than Einstein ever did.
* Kim Ung-Yong (IQ Level- 210)
A guest student in Physics at Hanyang University at the age of 3. Left NASA at the age of 16.
* Christopher Langan (IQ Level- 195-210)
Known as the smartest man in America, he scored a perfect score in SAT – even thought he slept his way through the exam.
* Rick Rosner (IQ Level- 192)
American TV writer and world’s fifth-smartest man.
* Philip Emeagwali (IQ Level- 190)
An engineer, mathematician and geologist, earned three masters degree in Mathematics, Environmental and Marine Engineering from various universities.
* Garry Kasparov (IQ Level- 190)
The Russian Chess Wizard and the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion at the age of 22. Defeated by Judit Polgar (IQ Level- 170)
* Sir Andrew Wiles (IQ Level- 170)
The award-winning English mathematician cracked the 358-year-old Fermat’s Last Theorem, listed by The Guinness Book of World Records as one of the world’s “most difficult mathematical problems”
* Judit Polgar (IQ Level- 170)
Judit Polgar became the youngest Grandmaster at the age of 15 and still holds that record. And she defeated the world number 1 Garry Kasparov in a match.
* Paul Allen (IQ Level- 170)
Microsoft co-founder and 51st richest person on the planet.
* Stephen Hawking (IQ Level- 160)
Theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and an author.
So what are the Highest IQs ever recorded?
William James Sidis
William James Sidis was born in New York City on April 1, 1898, and was quickly recognized as a child prodigy. Sidis had exceptional mathematical abilities and a claimed mastery of many languages. Records of any IQ testing that Sidis actually took have been lost to history, but after his death his sister claimed that William’s IQ was the highest that had been ever obtained, 250-300. At 6, he went to a grammar school and in 7 months he had graduated. At the age of 11 he attended Harvard and mastered over 40 languages. Shortly after graduation, he told reporters that he wanted to live the perfect life, which to him, meant living in seclusion. Later he became a mathematics teaching assistant in Texas after he was threatened physically by a group of students at Harvard. Soon he left the job and started concentrating on a political career and was arrested for participating in a socialist May Day parade in Boston.
Terence Tao
Terence Tao, who has an IQ of 225-230, was born on 17 July 1975 in, Adelaide, South Australia and currently resides in Los Angeles. Tao was teaching 5-year-olds how to spell and how to add numbers when he was 2 years old. Tao exhibited extraordinary mathematical abilities from an early age, attending university level mathematics courses at the age of 9. Tao was the youngest participant to date in the International Mathematical Olympiad, first competing at the age of ten, winning a bronze, silver, and gold medal respectively. He remains the youngest winner of each of the three medals in the Olympiad’s history. At 16, he received both his Bachelors and Masters degree and by 20 had received his Doctorate as well. He was the youngest professor ever at UCLA.
Related: Too Smart For Your Own Good: 6 Downsides of Being Highly Intelligent
