Intelligence has always been a subject of fascination for humanity. While historical figures like Einstein and Edison left an indelible mark, the modern world has witnessed an emergence of an elite class of geniuses, reaching new heights of IQ and pushing the boundaries of innovation and creativity.
In view of that according to available data and statistics, it is discovered that some of the smartest people in the world include Stephen Hawking, Edward Witten, Noam Chomsky, Manahel Thabet, and Judit Polgár. In that light, let us delve into their exceptional minds and extraordinary achievements.
Top 50 Smartest People In The World
1. Stephen Hawking (IQ: 160-170)
This astrophysicist, despite facing adversities like depression and motor neuron disease, is a paragon of pure genius. Renowned for his book “A Brief History of Time,” Hawking has revolutionized theories on black holes and made appearances in various TV shows, including “The Simpsons,” “Futurama,” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” He is definitely one of the smartest people in the world.
2. Edward Witten (IQ: Unknown)
As a physicist, Witten has been hailed as “the most brilliant physicist of his generation.” His contributions to string theory, M-theory, quantum gravity, and super-symmetry have been monumental. TIME magazine included him in their list of 100 most influential people in the world.
3. Noam Chomsky (IQ: Unknown)
Known as the “father of modern linguistics,” Chomsky’s work has had a profound impact on various fields, from artificial intelligence to music theory. He has authored over 100 books and was voted into the world’s Top 100 Public Intellectuals.
4. Manahel Thabet (IQ: 168)
A scientist, economist, and consultant, Thabet belongs to the top 0.1% of the highest IQs worldwide. The youngest Arab ever to attain this distinction, she has received numerous awards, including the UN’s Humanitarian award.
5. Judit Polgár (IQ: 170)
Regarded as the best female chess player in history, Polgár became a grandmaster at just 11 years old. She’s the only female player in the World Chess Federation’s Top 100 Players list.
6. Andrew Wiles (IQ: 170)
An award-winning English mathematician, Wiles is best known for proving Fermat’s Last Theorem, considered one of the most difficult mathematical problems in the world.
7. Grigori Perelman (IQ: Unknown)
After making groundbreaking contributions to mathematics, Perelman famously declined the Fields Medal, stating his disinterest in money or fame.
8. John Sununu (IQ: 180)
A mechanical engineer and a member of the Mega Society, Sununu’s career journey took him from being the dean of engineering at Tufts University to the Chief of Staff at the White House owing to his high intelligent quotient.
9. Ruth Lawrence (IQ: Unknown)
A former child prodigy, Lawrence obtained her bachelor’s degree from Oxford University at just 13 years old. She is now an associate professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Einstein Institute of Mathematics.
10. Magnus Carlsen (IQ: 190)
The reigning World Chess Champion, Carlsen, is the youngest player ever to be ranked number one. He was personally coached by the legendary Garry Kasparov.
11. Saul Kripke (IQ: Unknown)
A prodigious thinker, Kripke was invited to teach at Harvard while still in high school. His work on modal logic and other theories has left a profound impact.
12. Benjamin Netanyahu (IQ: 180)
As the first Israeli prime minister born in Israel, Netanyahu’s intelligence is evident from his significant political contributions.
13. Akshay Venkatesh (IQ: Unknown)
A math prodigy, Venkatesh won a bronze medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad when he was only 11. He received his PhD from Princeton at the age of 20.
14. Shahriar Afshar (IQ: Unknown)
An Iranian American physicist and entrepreneur, Afshar has invented award-winning products and is known for his groundbreaking work.
15. Steven Pinker (IQ: Unknown)
A Canadian expert in visual cognition and psycho-linguistics, Pinker is a prominent professor at Harvard with numerous awards and medals to his name.
16. Evangelos Katsioulis (IQ: 198)
Known for his remarkable intelligence, Katsioulis is a member of 28 IQ societies and has formed the World Intelligence Network IQ society.
17. Donald Knuth (IQ: Unknown)
The “father” of algorithmic analysis, Knuth is a renowned computer scientist and mathematician famous for his multi-volume tome “The Art of Computer Programming.”
18. James Woods (IQ: 180)
While known for his acting career, Woods is also a former MIT graduate in political science, showcasing his brilliance outside the realm of Hollywood.
19. Mislav Predavec (IQ: 190)
An ace Croatian mathematician, Predavec is the third smartest person alive and has initiated several high IQ societies like GenerIQ.
20. Marilyn Vos Savant (IQ: 186)
Having made it to The Guinness Book of World Records for her IQ, Savant’s column “Ask Marilyn” has garnered widespread acclaim.
21. Paul Allen (IQ: 160-170)
As the co-founder of Microsoft, Allen’s genius led to the establishment of various groundbreaking ventures, including the Allen Institute for Brain Science.
22. Garry Kasparov (IQ: 190)
A legendary chess player, Kasparov made history by defeating IBM computer Deep Blue with a score of 4-2.
23. Christopher Langan (IQ: 195-210)
Considered one of the smartest men alive, Langan taught himself to read at the age of 4 and developed his Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe.
24. Richard Rosner (IQ: 190)
Known for his versatility, Rosner’s career spans from TV writing to appearances on shows like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
25. Kim Ung-Yong (IQ: 210)
With an astounding IQ score since the age of 4, Ung-Yong began his university education at the age of 3 and worked with NASA by the time he was 16.
26. Christopher Hirata (IQ: 225)
An intellectual from a young age, Hirata won an International Physics Olympiad gold medal at just 13 and became a professor at The Ohio State University.
27. Terence Tao (IQ: 230)
Dubbed the “Mozart of Maths,” Tao displayed his genius early in life by teaching 5-year-olds how to spell and add when he was just 2.
28. James Maxwell (IQ: 190-210)
A prominent figure in electromagnetism, Maxwell’s work significantly influenced Einstein’s theory of relativity.
29. Garry Kasparov (IQ: 194)
A world chess champion for 14 years, Kasparov remains one of the greatest chess players of all time.
30. Evangelos Katsioulis (IQ: 198)
Famous for his high IQ test scores, Katsioulis is a psychiatrist and a notable intellectual.
31. Nadia Camukova (IQ: 200)
A professor fluent in seven languages, Camukova is a testament to linguistic brilliance.
32. Francis Galton (IQ: 200)
Galton’s work in meteorology and invention of the weather map solidified his position among the forefathers of the field.
33. Michael Grost (IQ: 200)
An American child prodigy, Grost entered college at the age of ten, showcasing remarkable cognitive abilities.
34. Hugo Grotius (IQ: 200)
Grotius’ influential work on The Rights of War and Peace remains highly regarded.
35. Thomas Wolsey (IQ: 200)
Known as England’s greatest medieval cardinal, Wolsey was a statesman and Catholic bishop.
36. Sho Yano (IQ: 200)
Completing his university education at the age of 3, Yano earned a Ph.D. from the Pritzker School of Medicine by the time he was 16.
37. Edith Stern (IQ: 200+)
An inventor and credited with direct dialing, Stern’s intelligence is evident in her groundbreaking contributions.
38. Nathan Leopold (IQ: 210)
Leopold, while known for other reasons, was accepted into Harvard Law School and displayed exceptional intellect.
39. William Shakespeare (IQ: 210)
The renowned playwright and poet, Shakespeare’s literary genius is still celebrated today.
40. Kim Ung-Yong (IQ: 210)
A Guinness World Record holder for the highest IQ, Ung-Yong achieved remarkable feats in academics and research.
41. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (IQ: 210-225)
The German literary figure, Goethe’s work, continues to inspire generations.
42. Christopher Hirata (IQ: 225)
An expert in various fields, Hirata’s research on the formation of galaxies earned him a Breakthrough Prize.
43. Marilyn vos Savant (IQ: 228)
Listed as the person with the highest IQ by Guinness World Records, Savant is celebrated for her brilliance.
44. Terence Tao (IQ: 225-230)
Tao’s work in partial differential equations has earned him global recognition as a mathematical prodigy.
45. William James Sidis (IQ: 250+)
Sidis’ work in thermodynamics and the origin of life was nothing short of extraordinary.
46. Carl Gauss (IQ: 250-300)
Gauss, one of the greatest mathematicians, contributed extensively to algebra, statistics, and analysis.
47. Ainan Celeste Cawley (IQ: 263)
Ainan’s exceptional intelligence was evident from a young age, setting him on a path of academic success.
48. Marnen Laibow-Koser (IQ: 268)
A composer with a remarkably high IQ, Laibow-Koser’s talent knows no bounds.
49. Michael Kearney (IQ: 325)
With a record of being the youngest college graduate in the U.S., Kearney’s intelligence is awe-inspiring.
50. Adragon De Mello (IQ: 400)
Another record holder for the youngest college graduate in the U.S., De Mello’s brilliance is unparalleled. He is recognized as one of the smartest people in the world.
Conclusion
The smartest people in the world are an astonishing testament to the limitless potential of the human mind. Their contributions to various fields have shaped our understanding of the universe and inspired generations to reach for new intellectual heights. Their stories remind us that intelligence, curiosity, and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements.