Have you ever thought about who is the most intelligent, talented and comprehensively developed person in the history of mankind? It is safe to call Leonardo da Vinci, but he is far from the only genius of our civilization. High intelligence is a double-edged sword. It can be both the greatest gift and a real curse for the person who possesses it. However, each of these people is a real person, despite the difficult destinies and difficult relationships with the surrounding individuals, fading against the backdrop of such bright "stars". But do not be upset, the brain can be developed and “pumped up” with knowledge and skills. So take this list as motivation!
The most famous person is Albert Einstein
"Disheveled" symbol of the 20th century
Born in Germany, Einstein became a symbol of science and progress throughout the 20th century. His last name has become a household name for smart people. He is one of two theoretical physicists that almost anyone can name (the other is likely to be Stephen Hawking). During his life he wrote more than 300 scientific articles, but he is also known as an ardent opponent of nuclear weapons (he regularly wrote letters to President Roosevelt warning about the dangers of using atomic bombs). Einstein also supported Jewish scientific development and stood at the origins of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
The IQ of a physicist is difficult to calculate accurately, since such studies were not conducted during his life, but his acquaintances and followers speak of a figure in the range from 170 to 190 points.
People love to evaluate each other. Compare physical performance and financial situation easy, but to evaluate mental capacity not at all easy. However, this task has always stood in society: both when hiring a person (especially in government and research organizations), and when enrolling students in educational establishments. Some qualitative characteristics are not enough, for an objective assessment, exact numbers are needed. And how and with what to measure the mind?
Alfred Binet's successful experiments in testing French schoolchildren
At the beginning of the last century, the French psychologist A. Binet, on behalf of the government, developed tests for Parisian schoolchildren. The task was to assess the ability of children to study. To evaluate the test results, Binet introduced a coefficient that showed how much a student was above or below his physical age. If a ten-year-old child solved the problems of an eleven-year-old, then his coefficient was 110 units. When calculating, mental age (in this case 11 years old) was divided by physical age - 10 years old - and multiplied by 100.
The tasks were designed so that the majority of children completed all the tests of their age group, that is, the average coefficient for peers was 100. If a student did not cope with these tasks, but mastered only more primitive tasks, then his ability coefficient was less than 100. In this case, to he had to be treated differently at school.
Introduction and development of tests for adults
The results of the French psychologist were very impressive and were picked up by psychologists in other countries. His approach to the numerical assessment of intellectual abilities was taken as a basis and extended to all age groups. For adults, the calculation method was different, but the idea remained the same.
The first intelligence scale for adults was created in 1939 by D. Wexler. IQ (intelligence quotient, intelligence quotient) shows how much a particular person is better or worse at solving intellectual problems relative to the average level. Per average level the number 100 is accepted. It is believed that IQ gives an estimate of a person's intelligence. If it is equal to 90-110, then the person has average abilities. If IQ is in the range of 120-130, then the person's abilities are above average. If IQ is more than 140, then the person is a genius. Those people who show results below 70 in tests are considered mentally retarded.
The term IQ was coined by the German psychologist Wilhelm Stern in 1912. What is the IQ level famous people? Politicians, rulers of states, scientists? For example, what is Einstein's IQ? We will talk about this further.
Eysenck tests - the most famous, but not the most accurate
Before we find out what kind of IQ Einstein had, let's talk about the most popular test with which you can determine his level. One of the first to actively develop IQ tests for adults was the German-born British psychologist Hans Jürgen Eysenck (1916-1997). He conducted research, wrote articles and books, and gave lectures. Not all scientists agreed with his views, but Eysenck's tests at that time were the most thoughtful and easily applicable, therefore they were widely used in various studies.
Eysenck tests were intended for people with average and higher education aged 18 to 50 years. The maximum IQ coefficient on the Eysenck tests is 180 points.
Each test consists of text, digital and graphic tasks, the solution of which is found using logic. The complexity of the tasks is increasing. The test consists of 40 questions, which take 30 minutes to solve. The tasks are designed in such a way that the verbal, mathematical and visual-spatial abilities of the test-taker are fully manifested. All assignments are not required.
Eysenck's tests are widely used now, although there are many tests created by other scientists (D. Wexler, J. Raven, R. Amthauer, R. B. Kettell.) and give a more accurate assessment of the level of intelligence. But they are all more labor intensive. There is currently no single standard for IQ tests. And what is Einstein's IQ according to the Eysenck test? You will know about it soon.
Relationship between IQ and profession
Psychologists conducted mass testing of people in different social groups and got the expected results. The average IQ of unskilled workers is 87. Rural and semi-skilled workers have an IQ of 92. Office workers, salespeople, skilled workers, and foremen have an IQ of around 101. Managers and administrators score 104 points. For people with higher education, IQ is 114 points, for candidates of science it reaches 125.
It must be understood that these are the average values of the level of intelligence in a group of subjects. They do not claim that among the farmers there will not be a person with an IQ of 110, and among the graduates of the institute there will not be people with a coefficient of 90.
And what indicator did the scientist Einstein Albert have? According to the above information, his IQ should be at least 125. Well, now you will find out the answer to the main question.
IQ level of Einstein and other historical figures
The creator Albert Einstein is perhaps the most famous scientist of our time. Most people who know about him consider him a man of genius. So how much IQ does Einstein have?
By the time of his death, research on the calculation of IQ was just gaining momentum, and Eisenck's tests Einstein did not pass. But scientists really wanted to answer this question, and they came up with indirect methods for assessing intelligence. The Swenson-Krein method, for example, analyzes behavior and verbal statements. Einstein's IQ test showed stunning results. According to all calculations, it turned out that the IQ of the great physicist was in no way less than 160, or even all 200. The spread is explained different ways estimates and a different set of initial data. Each researcher defends his method and his results. There is no consensus on this issue.
IQ level of other historical figures
In the same indirect way, the intelligence of other historical figures was assessed. Philosopher Benedict Spinoza had an IQ of 175, Blaise Pascal had 171, Isaac Newton had 190, Leonardo da Vinci had 180, Charles Darwin had 165. You can find data from other scientific and political figures of the past. The question is what to do next with this information ... Einstein himself was very skeptical about the possibility of evaluating the mental abilities of a person in numbers.
People with the highest IQs
There is a Mensa International club in the world, where people with a high IQ value are accepted. Each person can pass the test and, if they have a high IQ, be accepted into this club. To date, the club has more than 100 thousand members from all over the world. Among them are scientists, artists, politicians, students, drivers.
The highest scores are:
- Terence Tao (mathematician, Australia, IQ 230).
- Marilyn Vos Savant (journalist, USA, IQ 228).
- Christopher Hirata (astrophysicist, USA, IQ 225).
- Kim Ung-Yong (mathematician, South Korea, IQ 210).
Most famous people in the world also have a high IQ. For example, Microsoft founders Paul Allen and Bill Gates have IQs of 170 and 160, respectively. A. Schwarzenegger has an IQ of 135, the ex-president has an IQ of 137. Brad Pitt has an IQ of 119, Angelina Jolie has an IQ of 118.
Interestingly, people with average intelligence are also popular. Here are the owners of low IQ, who are known and loved by everyone:
- Bruce Willis - American actor, IQ = 101.
- Britney Spears - American pop singer, IQ = 98.
- Muhammad Ali - American boxer, IQ = 78.
- Sylvester Stallone is an American actor, screenwriter, and director with an IQ of 54.
What dependencies have been revealed by psychological studies of intelligence in different population groups
- Intelligence actively develops in childhood and adolescence and reaches its peak at about 26 years of age. In the future, it remains at the same level or falls. But with the right lifestyle and regular training, the IQ increases.
- To a greater extent, IQ is determined by genetic characteristics (about 80%), but living conditions, especially in childhood, also affect its value.
- There is a connection between the IQ value of the inhabitants of the country and its economic condition, the development of democratic institutions and religiosity.
- Crimes are more often committed by people with an IQ of 70-90, and this indicator does not depend on race.
- Poor nutrition in childhood reduces the intelligence quotient. Iodine deficiency and marijuana use also lower IQ. The decrease can reach 10-12 points.
- Breastfeeding a child helps to increase the level of his intelligence.
- People with a high IQ have a longer life expectancy and are less likely to get sick.
- As a rule, at beautiful people higher IQ.
Is it worth taking the test yourself?
Despite more than a century of history of studying intelligence, scientists have not come to a consensus on what intelligence is and how to measure it correctly. With a general definition of intelligence as the ability to act intelligently and successfully cope with all life circumstances, according to most psychologists, but then discrepancies begin. Therefore, all IQ estimates should be considered approximate, which characterize a person only in part. You now know what was the IQ of Einstein and other famous personalities. Everyone should take the test though. What if they get accepted into the Mensa International club?
Suri from England is literally a genius. The level of intelligence of this baby is one of the highest in the world and even more than that of Stephen Hawking. But a teenager does not dream of a career as a scientist and does not want to make great discoveries. She is a real girl who does not want to decide anything.
Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl from India Suryanshi Suri Ranjan is a real bright head. At two years old, this girl began to speak fluently, at three she could beat anyone at chess, and at four she easily read even complex literature, writes The Sun.
The girl was born in Mumbai and grew up in West Bengal. Already there, she felt that learning was easy for her when she finished the difficult work in mathematics in ten minutes and almost fell asleep from boredom. Suri later moved with her family to Kingston, England, where she passed her exams in 13 schools.
Her parents, Abhijay and Niti Ranjan, say that the girl's intelligence was noticeable from childhood. Suri was such a smart child that it even caused some tension in the family at first.
At first I was a little afraid. I wanted her to have a normal childhood, we were worried that she would be left alone. It's like living with an adult: she never wanted to play with dolls, all her toys were educational.
Over time, the girl continued to develop her abilities and at the beginning of spring she was able to go to Mensa, having passed two super difficult tests. Mensa is a community of people who score better on IQ tests than 98 percent of the rest of the world's population. It was created in 1948 to support intelligent people, research on intelligence and its nature.
Suri managed to show amazing results: she scored the maximum score. Thus, she entered the one percent of people with the highest IQs in the world. Suri scored 162 points. It is believed that the brilliant physicists Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking had an IQ that was two points lower, and the world average was 100.
The girl's father, a banker with a background in quantum mechanics, also took tests at Mensa, but scored lower than his gifted child - his coefficient is 142.
The girl is proud to have entered the club, but equally enjoys both solving difficult mathematical problems and singing and walking with her friends. The teenager has already thought about her future career, and the prospect of becoming a scientist does not appeal to her yet. Ranjan wants to become a pop star like a real girl.
Adele inspires me. There are so many emotions in her music. Her songs are amazing. I wish I could write songs like her someday.
Despite her outstanding abilities, the baby does not feel like a supergirl. Suri is going to study biomedical engineering at Princeton University, but does not feel much difference between himself and his peers.
I just think a little differently than my peers and see things differently. I think it's good. It's cool when you can explain everything to your friends. I don't feel the difference. We are all children, we have fun.
The girl's father predicts a great future for the girl, but treats her personal needs with understanding.
We are very proud of her. We would like her to realize her full potential. She is so versatile. We never expected her to dedicate herself entirely to academic knowledge, and fortunately, this is not the case. It's one thing to be smart, but there are other things that matter more.
Now Suri is no doubt a very young member of Mensa, but there are those who gave her a head start. For example, the youngest member of the community is only four years old, and one of the smarties joined the intellectual group at the age of two years and four months.
And the millionaire Simon Cowell at the same time believes that modern education- meaningless. The Western showbiz star even offered his son to graduate from school at the age of 10, but on his social networks.
As practice shows, the students themselves willingly say goodbye to the school, and sometimes they do it. The latest calls that took place in different cities of Russia are excellent proof that schoolchildren are happy to get rid of the lessons.
Have you ever thought about who is the most intelligent, talented and comprehensively developed person in the history of mankind? It is safe to call Leonardo da Vinci, but he is far from the only genius of our civilization. High intelligence is a double-edged sword. It can be both the greatest gift and a real curse for the person who possesses it. However, each of these people is a real person, despite the difficult destinies and difficult relationships with the surrounding individuals, fading against the backdrop of such bright "stars". But do not be upset, the brain can be developed and “pumped up” with knowledge and skills. So take this list as motivation!
The most famous person is Albert Einstein
"Disheveled" symbol of the 20th centuryBorn in Germany, Einstein became a symbol of science and progress throughout the 20th century. His last name has become a household name for smart people. He is one of two theoretical physicists that almost anyone can name (the other is likely to be Stephen Hawking). During his life he wrote more than 300 scientific articles, but he is also known as an ardent opponent of nuclear weapons (he regularly wrote letters to President Roosevelt warning about the dangers of using atomic bombs). Einstein also supported Jewish scientific development and stood at the origins of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
The IQ of a physicist is difficult to calculate accurately, since such studies were not conducted during his life, but his acquaintances and followers speak of a figure in the range from 170 to 190 points.
Genius committed to crime Nathan was a real child prodigy with an IQ of 210. He had an incredibly difficult childhood - his parents often used violence against him, he was bullied by his peers, and on top of everything else, he was subjected to regular sexual abuse by his governess, who was much older than him (at that time she was already over 40 years old, and he was 12). Perhaps it was these events that caused the development of mental abnormalities: by the age of majority, Nathan became obsessed with the idea of a perfect murder. To realize his dream in 1924, he teamed up with Richard Lab. Their target was Lab's cousin, who was barely 14 years old.
Despite the fact that all the facts proved the guilt of the defendants, both escaped the death penalty and Leopold was released from prison soon enough. After his release, Nathan moved to Puerto Rico, where he taught mathematics at the university. His crime was the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock, who created the film "Rope" based on the event (Considered one of the best in the filmography of the eminent director).
One of the smartest women of our time Her IQ is 200 points. Born in Moscow, Nadezhda has claimed throughout her professorial career that she owes her success to her family and country. Nadezhda knows 7 languages and more than 40 dialects. She currently teaches in Turkey.
Barnett during a lecture As a child, Jacob received a disappointing diagnosis - autism. Doctors were sure that he would not even be able to learn how to tie his shoes on his own. Nevertheless, by the age of 18, he became a doctor of science at the Canadian University of Waterloo. His IQ is at 170.
Jacob's parents went against the system, teachers and doctors, giving their child a home education. This is what allowed him to achieve such dizzying success.
Rosner while working as a bouncer Richard's IQ is 192, making him one of the smartest "lazy people". He did not become known as a world-famous scientist, but he managed to work as a writer, a bouncer, a nude model and starred in several commercials. As he himself reports, he is interested in all areas of human knowledge, but only to absorb them. For a greater understanding and assimilation of the knowledge gained, he uses various supplements and drugs that stimulate the brain.
Pole presenting his research at CERN An American scientist of Croatian blood, Polyak is one of the leading specialists of the CERN Institute. His IQ is 182, according to recent testing. In addition to various studies in the field of molecular physics and physics elementary particles, Nicola teaches at universities in the US and Canada, and also works at the Brookhaven Laboratory (New York).
William Jay Sidis
The smartest man in history in one of the early photographs The Sidis couple, Boris and Sarah, from the very beginning of their family life wanted to have a child-genius. And they succeeded. Coefficient mental development their son, William, scored 250 or higher. Already at six months the boy could explain in simple terms like "chair", "table", "food" and so on.
In the first grade, Sidis Jr. already spoke 8 languages and knew the entire school curriculum. Genius deprived the child of childhood - already at the age of 9 he was admitted to Harvard, but he was allowed to attend lectures and study only three years later, at 12, since the child, according to the administration, could not be emotionally mature (even despite the obvious genius ).
Growing up, William led a nomadic life, taking on all sorts of jobs, traveling under different names. He also wrote several books, boring and uninteresting to the point of impossibility. However, he laid the foundation for the study of black holes in one of them (for the beginning of the 20th century, this was a real breakthrough in scientific thought).
People who knew him recalled that Sidis was infantile and deeply unhappy. He died at 46 from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Allen at his own aviation museum You can call Mr. Allen the living embodiment of Tony "Iron Man" Stark: a millionaire, a genius and a philanthropist. Paul was born in Seattle. His IQ is 170 points. Allen owns several sports teams.
Polgár during the World Chess Tournament A world-famous chess player who rightfully bears the title of grandmaster from the age of 15 (she became one of the youngest holders of this honorary title). Her IQ level is 170 points.
The genius of Africa in his villa He is called the "Bill Gates of the Black Continent". Philip left school at the age of 14 to earn money to provide for himself and his family. Never stopped in Nigeria civil wars and social conflicts. However, this did not stop the gifted young man: he received a scholarship at the University of Oregon at the age of 17. The IQ of a Nigerian genius is 190.
His ideas related to the development of an innovative approach to the construction of data transmission facilities made it possible to create new supercomputers. As Emeagwali himself said, he drew inspiration from the work of bees to create honeycombs. The research of this scientist also made it possible to increase the efficiency of oil production.
Terence Tao reveals an unusually high IQ for this world
Terence at work Born in Brisbane, Australia in a family of emigrants from Hong Kong. He conducted his first full-fledged scientific research at the age of 15, and at 21 he received his doctorate from Princeton. At 24, Tao received a professorship at the University of California, becoming the youngest holder of this title. His IQ is 225 points.
Chris during one of the interviews Langan is considered one of the smartest people in North America. Already at the age of 3, he calmly read adult books. Remarkably, he abandoned his studies at the university, as he was sure that the teachers would not be able to teach him anything new.
Like many geniuses on our list, he managed to change more than one job: he was both a firefighter and a bouncer (for some reason, men with high level mental quotient like this activity). He tried many activities, but did not stop at one. Langan's fame was brought by the scientific work "Cognitive theory of the model of the Universe". Christopher's IQ is 195.
Miclav can solve a Rubik's cube in 10 seconds A Horvath professor of mathematics, Miclav has an IQ of 192. By the way, only one in a billion has this ratio above 190. His passion is tests and puzzles. At the same time, his wife claims that despite the genius, her husband behaves like a child in many situations. For example, he can hardly put a SIM card into the phone slot. Nevertheless, the Predaweks consider themselves to be an ordinary couple with ordinary problems.
Ivek at a lecture Another member of the Croatian people, Ivan is an IQ tester. His IQ is 174. He has developed a huge number of techniques posted on his own website. Ivek is sure that modern IQ tests are subjective and inadequate, as really smart people can cope with the most difficult tasks, but at a slow speed (and vice versa).
Kim during a conference in London Kim showed his genius early: at the age of three, he was fluent in four languages. His IQ is 210 points. The gifted young man was born in South Korea, then he was noticed at NASA, where he worked for 10 years. He later returned to his homeland, where he still lives. According to Yun-Yang, it is not intelligence that makes people special, but the ability to enjoy simple things that no one can do without: family, work, friends.
Hirata at NASA Chris became the youngest gold medal winner at the International Physics Olympiad. This native of Michigan is most interested in astrophysics and the colonization of other planets, in particular - Mars. At age 16, he received a bachelor's degree from the University of California and in 2001 received a position at NASA, doing what he loves. Four years later, in 2005, Chris graduated from Harvard with a Ph.D. in physics (he was in his early 20s at the time).
Hirata is currently teaching physics at Ohio State University. His IQ level is 225 points.
Photo taken before the battle with the supercomputer One of the most famous chess players in the world (perhaps the most famous), Kasparov is famous for his match with the Deep Blue computer developed by IBM. In a series of two duels, Harry won one, and the supercomputer won one. It was an event of unprecedented proportions - the first time a machine defeated a reigning world chess champion. Kasparov's IQ is 195 points.
Hawking in weightlessness Like Einstein, Hawking is a world-famous star in theoretical physics. He is a symbol of the triumph of the human mind over the mortal body, and almost everyone, young and old, knows about his incredible brain. His bestseller, Short story time" is considered one of the best works on quantum mechanics and the Big Bang Theory.
At the age of 12, Hawking was stunned by a terrible diagnosis - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. With such a disease, people live no more than five years, but Stephen not only overcame depression, got married and had children, but also made an unprecedented breakthrough in theoretical physics, popularizing this area of science. Now the genius has turned 70 years old and he is not going to stop in his scientific research to the end, despite the inability to move and communicate with others without special means. Stephen Hawking's IQ is 160.
Walter at San Diego ComiCon A businessman and technical genius, Walter O'Brien was born and raised in Ireland. His IQ level is 200 points. As is often the case with gifted children, Brian was considered autistic at school. However, the tests showed not only the absence of autism, but also a colossal level of brain development.
At the age of 13, Walter hacked NASA's closed servers and stole the plans for the Shuttle. As he later stated, it was done for fun. Now the genius is engaged in IT development and teaches programmers at his own school.
Photo for the author's column in the New York Store The holder of the highest IQ level according to the Guinness Book of Records for 1986, Marilyn is known for her writing talent. Her IQ level was 225 points. Robert Yarvik, husband of a brilliant woman, created the first working artificial heart. The couple's constant scientific pursuits and success have earned them the title of "New York's smartest couple."
Sketch for a self-portrait of a Renaissance genius The significance of the genius of Leonardo is difficult to assess - he is famous for his work in the field of astronomy, anatomy, and engineering. You can simply not mention his artistic talents - every first grader knows about them. Da Vinci was ahead of his time by centuries, giving inspiration to many generations of scientific minds. During the Renaissance, there were no IQ tests, but modern researchers have calculated that Leonardo's IQ was about 190 points.
Nikola Tesla
One of the most famous photographs of the famous physicist Another genius who was ahead of his time and gave rise to a million mysteries around his personality. Tesla's level of mental development also remained unknown, but it is assumed that he ranged from 200 to 210 points. For the 20s of the twentieth century, when the inventor died, such figures were incredible. It's safe to say that Nikola was the most smart person of his time. He owns hundreds of patents that gave rise to cell phones, remote controls remote control and wireless charging.
Wiles after successfully defending the justification for Fermi's theorem Oxford professor who received for his scientific activity a title of nobility from the hands of Queen Elizabeth II herself. He substantiated the last Fermi theorem, over the solution of which the best minds fought for three and a half centuries. Andrew's IQ is 170 points.
Photo of Gina from the Academy Awards One of the smartest women in the United States, the winner of the Oscar for Best Actress and just a spectacular person, Geena Davis is known in Russia as an actress. But her accomplishments don't end there. She is fluent in several languages and actively fights for the rights of women around the world, in particular - for the active participation of the weaker sex in the media.
Wunderkind in his room Perhaps the most gifted person on planet Earth. His IQ is over 250. Born and lives in Singapore. At the age of 7, he received the right to undergo testing for knowledge of the deep foundations of chemistry and successfully passed it. In addition, Einan remembers by heart more than 500 decimal places in the number "Pi" and composes orchestral musical compositions.
Humanity is developing, and so is our brain, so scientists predict the emergence of an increasing number of people whose level of mental development exceeds the average. We can only hope that we ordinary people, there will be a place in this rapidly growing smarter world.
IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a concept that characterizes the level of development of an individual relative to the average person of the same age. The average IQ value is taken as 100 points. The most popular test for determining intelligence is the Eysenck test. There are also Wexler, Stanford-Binet, Cattell, Raven and Amthauer methods. They are more precise, but more complex. To conduct testing, a person needs to solve a number of logical problems, the solution time is strictly limited. The normal level of intelligence is 90-110 points according to Eysenck.People with a high level of intelligence have a special society - Mensa. Individuals with an IQ level higher than 98% of people are accepted there.
Celebrities with high IQs
Many successful people have a high IQ. The famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking boasts 160 points. Despite the disability and almost complete paralysis, Hawking is one of the most respected scientists, the author of several books and has 14 different awards. The outstanding chess player Garry Kasparov at one time became the youngest world champion, and in this he was helped by an IQ of 190 points. Entrepreneur Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, apparently also often used the clues of his intuition and was able to develop his business in the right way. His intelligence is estimated at 170 points. Many Hollywood celebrities are also keeping up with their fellow scientists. Dolph Lundgren and Quentin Tarantino have an intelligence of 160 points, Sharon Stone - 154, Reese Witherspoon - 145 points. In Russia, intelligence tests were not conducted among celebrities, but experts note high rates for Nikolai Baskov, Alla Pugacheva, Lena Lenina.Marilyn vos Savant, a writer and journalist from the United States, has the highest IQ level.
