Who has the Highest IQ in the World? Smartest Person Alive 2025
IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is the measure of one’s cognitive aptitudes. In another case, IQ tests assess one’s reasoning ability, problem-solving and also analytical skills.
As per the research, it was found that there are many ancient and contemporary figures have been recognized widely for their IQ. Hence, if you are searching to know about the Top 10 Highest IQ in the World, then let us here help you to sharpen your knowledge.
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Terence Tao (IQ 225-230)
The first name among the Top 10 highest IQs in the world is Terence Tao (IQ 225-230). He is an Australian American mathematician and has shown extraordinary intelligence since his childhood.
In SAT, he has scored 720 and also completed his PHD at 20.
He majorly specialises in number theory, harmonic analysis, and partial differential equations.
Moreover, he has also won some of prestigious awards- Nobel Prize in Mathematics. But despite his intelligence, he is known as one of the humble personalities.
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Marilyn vos Savant (IQ 228)
An American columnist and author, Marilyn Vos Savant has gained popularity for her marvellous IQ level. With this, she was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
It was found that her intelligence came into notice with the “Ask Marilyn” column, where she solved puzzles and also logical equations. She is also famous for answering correctly the Monty Hall problem, which is a probability puzzle that cofounded many mathematicians as well.
Besides this, she has also contributed to many discussions, logic, and even reasoning sessions. Her ability to solve the toughest problems has made her among the top 10 highest IQ in the world.
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Christopher Hirata (IQ 225)
Christopher Hirata is an American physicist who demonstrated extraordinary skills since childhood. That was the time when people knew he would do something extraordinary.
At the age of 13, he won an international physics Olympiad, and you cannot believe that by 14 he was working with NASA (on Mars colonization projects).
From Princeton, he also obtained a PhD and later became a professor at Caltech while focusing on dark matter and general relativity. His ability to grasp things easily and also put forth his knowledge towards many projects pushes his boundaries to do something beyond everyone’s expectations.
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Kim Ung-Yong (IQ 210-220)
Kim Ung-Yong is a South Korean, child who started speaking at the age of 6. Alongside, he was also able to read multiple languages by the age of two. By the time he was at 3, he was able to solve complex calculus problems.
Additionally, at the age of 8, he was also invited to the U.S. to study, and he was the youngest person to work with the company. Besides, his IQ level, he also earned PhD in civil engineering and carried his life ahead investing in multiple projects.
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Leonardo da Vinci (Estimated IQ 180-220)
Leonardo da Vinci was among the Top 10 Highest IQ in the World and he was a genius for sure. He was known for his masterpieces like Mona Lisa and The Last Supper and even excelled in art, engineering, anatomy, and physics.
He presented his detailed anatomical sketches and advanced medical expertise. Along with this, his excellence in physics and engineering also laid the foundation for future innovation.
Leonardo continues to inspire many scientists, artists, and thinkers, and with his intelligence to shape the future.
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Johann Goethe (Estimated IQ 210-225)
A German polymath, Johann was a master of literature, philosophy, and science. He is best known for Faust and has also made a significant contribution to botany, anatomy, and colour theory.
His work in psychology and linguistics influenced later studies. His concept of “Weltliteratur” emphasised cultural exchange, shaping modern literature. He was also indulging towards his scientific research majorly in optics. No doubt, his intelligence reflects a clear picture of the depth of knowledge and makes him one of the greatest minds.
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William James Sidis (Estimated IQ 200-300)
At the time of searching for the top 20 highest IQ in the world names, you will also find William James on the list. He is an American child prodigy and he entered Harvard at age 11.
What we people dream of, he could make at an early age and showcase his mathematical and linguistic abilities. He could speak over 40 languages and even developed a unique theory of universe.
But despite having too much with him, he chooses to live a private life and majorly away from public attention. He even authored numerous books covering subjects from history to political theory.
With all of his intelligence, he stated that intelligence does not determine the happiness of life.
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Isaac Newton (Estimated IQ 190-200)
Newton transformed science with his work on calculus, optics, and physics. His Principia Mathematica introduced the law of motions and even universal gravitation, and upon shaping modern physics.
He even made a significant contribution towards the advancements in mathematics, along with his revolutionary work in optics which led to the discovery of the color spectrum.
Newton’s curiosity and logical reasoning made him withstand as one of the most influential intellectuals.
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Albert Einstein (Estimated IQ 160-190)
As a German-born physicist, he developed the theory of relativity, fundamentally which changed our understanding of space, time and also gravity.
He introduced the equation E=mc², which relatively demonstrated the association between energy and mass. With this, he was also awarded the Nobel prize in Physics in 1921 and is stated as one of the most brilliant scientists and even a human being.
Along with this, he even holds the aptitude to imagine complex scientific concepts in simple terms and this sets him apart.
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Nikola Tesla (Estimated IQ 160-310)
The last name among the top 10 highest IQ in the world, is Nikola Tesla and he was a Serbian-American inventor, who excelled in electrical engineering and electromagnetism.
He played a vital role in developing alternating current, and power systems and also making electricity more efficient. His vision also included wireless energy transmission, radio waves, and robotics, which were not even thought of then.
Tesla was seen as one of the greatest inventors in history.
Also Read: Top 10 Highest IQ in India 2025
Sum up
From physics to mathematics and even to engineering, all of the above top 10 highest IQ in the world people are not just genius, but they have extended their capability to shape the future and inspiration for future generations.
This was moreover, to push the boundaries of human knowledge and also novelty.
