IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, is a metric that measures an individual's mental ability in comparison to others, as defined by Mensa International since its coining in 1912. Despite the development of IQ tests to assess logic and reasoning through standard deviations, measuring intelligence remains a complex task.
In the quest to identify the world's smartest individuals, renowned figures like Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, while celebrated for their intellect, do not necessarily possess exceptionally high IQ scores when compared to others.
The question of who holds the highest IQ lacks a definitive answer, and surprising to many, it is not Albert Einstein. Figures with higher estimated IQs than Einstein include William James Sidis, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Marilyn vos Savant.
Sidis, a child prodigy, boasted an estimated IQ ranging between 200 to 300, attending Harvard University at the age of 11 and graduating at 16, as reported by parade.com. Da Vinci, the famed painter and theorist, is believed to have had IQ scores ranging from 180 to 220, according to the same source.
Marilyn vos Savant holds the highest recorded IQ at 228, earning her a place in "The Guinness Book of World Records" in 1985, as stated by encyclopedia.com. Referred to as "the smartest person in the world," vos Savant's exceptional intellect is well-documented.
Other individuals noted for their high IQs include Sho Yano, with an estimated IQ of around 200 at the age of 10, and Adragon De Mello, projected to have an IQ of 400, graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz, at the age of 11, according to Reader's Digest.
The mystery surrounding Albert Einstein's IQ persists, with estimates around 160, but no concrete evidence of him ever taking an IQ test, as emphasized by biography.com. Professor Dean Keith Simonton states that available scores are mere estimates, leaving Einstein's IQ level uncertain.
Similarly, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, despite an estimated IQ of 160, lacks confirmation of ever taking an IQ test free, according to enhancingbrain.com. The average IQ score in the U.S. is noted to be 98, with about 68% of people falling between an IQ range of 85 and 115, as reported by Healthline.
In the realm of genius, the quest to pinpoint the highest IQ remains elusive, as intelligence defies simple measurement.
