Top 10 People With the Highest IQ in the World
Are you excited to read about some of the greatest geniuses in the world?
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is a numerical value that is used to assess a personโs cognitive abilities in areas such as logical reasoning, memory retention and problem solving. Usually calculated through standardized tests, it compares an individualโs cognitive ability to that of the general population, with the average intelligence score set at 100. While, individuals with a score above 130 are considered gifted, some individuals show signs of exceptional intelligence by reaching far beyond the scores of 200 or more, becoming the genuises of the world.
While, an extremely high IQ score reflects unmatched skills in problem solving, analytical thinking and rapid pattern recognition, what truly makes these individuals stand out is how they apply their intelligence to benefit the world around them. This article explores the top 10 people with the highest IQs in the world.
Given below is a list of the top 10 geniuses in the world, along with their nationalities and intelligence levels.
|
Rank |
Name |
Estimated IQ |
|
1 |
YoungHoon Kim |
276 |
|
2 |
Terence Tao |
230 |
|
3 |
Marilyn vos Savant |
228 |
|
4 |
Christopher Hirata |
225 |
|
5 |
Evangelos Katsioulis |
200 |
|
6 |
Christopher Harding |
198 |
|
7 |
Sho Yano |
197 |
|
8 |
Christopher Langan |
195 |
|
9 |
Rick Rosner |
192 |
|
10 |
Garry Kasparov |
190 |
1. YoungHoon Kimย
With an incredible IQ score of 276, South Koreaโs YoungHoom Kim ranks first on the list of the top 10 people with the highest IQs in the world. Kim is a polymath who works across psychology, linguistics and neuroscience. His participation in high-IQ societies brought his exceptional intellect to the worldโs recognition.
A serious researcher, his work focuses on understanding how the brain processes language, how thought gets its structure and how all of these functions impact learning, communication and perception. His insights have made significant contributions to improving therapies for language disorders and learning disabilities.
2. Terence Tao
Popularly known as a one-in-a-century intellectual, Terence Tao ranks second among the top 10 individuals with the highest IQs in the world. Born in Australia, Tao began working with complex mathematical problems at a very young age. It is important to note that Tao was already mastering college-level math by the age of 9 years and had, in fact, completed his Ph.D. by the age of 20.
Specialized in harmonic analysis, differential equations and number theory,ย Terence Tao is a renowned teacher and researcher at UCLA. His published papers and extensive research in mathematics have encouraged several students and have helped them understand mathematics in easier and more inclusive ways. His unmatched brilliance and modest personality have earned him the reputation of one of the most admired figures in the world.
3. Marilyn vos Savantย ย
Marilyn vos Savant, an American author, became famous for having one of the highest IQ scores ever recorded and was once listed by Guinness World Records for this achievement. Ranked third among the top individuals with the highest IQ across the globe, Savant is popular for โAsk Marilyn,โ a long-running column in Parade Magazine, where she tackles logical puzzles and brain teasers.
She is also known for providing correct yet controversial answers to the Monty Hall Problem. Her areas of work mainly include logic, philosophy and physics. She is a renowned professional who actively contributes to the development of communication and critical thinking skills in the younger generation.
4. Christopher Hirata
Christopher Hirata is an aerophysicist who is popularly known as a prodigal figure. His incredible intellect brought him the opportunity to work with NASA on a future Mars mission at the tender age of 12 years. He started studying at Caltech when he was just 14 and later got his Ph.D. from Princeton.
A learned professor at Ohio State University, his academic work focuses on dark energy, cosmic acceleration and gravitational lensing. His contributions to solving some of the most complex mysteries of the universe make him a pioneer in modern-day cosmology.
5. Evangelos Katsioulisย
Ranked fifth among the top 10 people with the highest IQs in the world, Katsioulis is a Greek polymath. With his brilliant intellect, he has made several contributions to multiple disciplines. Initially trained as a psychiatrist, he also holds degrees in philosophy, medical technology and psychopharmacology. He is also a great poet, painter and swimmer.
As the founder of the World Intelligence Network, he connects high-IQ individuals from around the world to collaborate on ideas and support meaningful causes. A strong advocate of mental health and better education systems, Katsioulis is using his intellect to improve and change lives.
6. Christopher Harding
A professional in psychiatry, ethics and philosophy, Christopher Harding is one of the most intelligent living individuals in the world. His academic work usually deals with how consciousness works, how values are formed and how decisions are made in morally complex situations.
In 1974, he founded the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry, a group that includes a large number of high-IQ individuals who score in the top 0.1 percent on IQ tests. He was named the ‘Smartest Man in the World’ by Guinness World Records and held that title from 1966 to 1988.
7. Sho Yano
Sho Yano, an Australian genius, is known as a child prodigy who completed his Ph.D. in molecular genetics by the age of 18 years and earned an MD by 21. A child prodigy, he was homeschooled by his mother, who took care of both his emotional and intellectual development.
Now he is a practicing pediatric neurologist who focuses on helping children with neurological disorders. His academic work has made significant contributions to the field of science and biology, making him one of the most popular professionals in the world.
8. Christopher Langan
Christopher Langan is popularly known as the โSmartest Man in America.โ Unlike many people with similar IQs, Langan did not get a supportive and growth-oriented environment during his tender years. He was raised in poverty and had to face instability throughout his childhood.
Despite all the challenges, he developed an ambitious yet controversial theory called the Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU). He laid foundation for a framework that brought together mind and reality, blending it with logic, metaphysics and cognitive science.
9. Rick Rosner
Rick Rosner, ranked ninth in the list of the top 10 people with the highest IQs in the world, is someone who is celebrated for uniquely combining intellect with pop culture. Unlike others with a similar IQ level, he did not engage in academia; rather, he broke all stereotypical notions of being a genius by working as a TV writer, a gameshow contestant, a stripper, a bouncer and a roller-skating waiter.
He also has a deep interest in physics and has written extensively on space, time and cosmology. Although his ideas are not widely accepted by mainstream science, he continues to challenge the norms of conventional science, just like he has been challenging the stereotypical ideas around intellect almost all his life.
10. Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov is widely known as one of the most successful and influential chess players in history. Ranked 10th among the top highly intellectual individuals in the world, Kasparov has great strategic reasoning, memory and visualization abilities. He also became the youngest chess champion at the tender age of 15 years.
Later in life, he became a political voice, author, and well-known thought leader. His bookย How Life Imitates Chessย is a famous text that talks significantly about making informed decisions. He is celebrated for using his intellect for greater causes to benefit the society.
Also Read:ย Top 10 Highest IQ in India 2025
Conclusion
As this article lists the top 10 people with the highest IQs in the world, it becomes clear that while they possess exceptional intelligence and cognitive abilities, What makes them stand out is the way they use their intelligence to make a positive difference in the world. While some of them show unmatched brilliance in academic fields such as philosophy, mathematics and physics, others have excelled in different fields such as creative media, pop culture, chess playing and public writing. This suggests that genius is multifaceted and that it is defined by how a person with high IQ applies their cognitive abilities to benefit society.
