20 Celebrities with Ridiculously High IQs

An Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score is a widely used and respected measure of intelligence. It is the result of standardized testing and has been the subject of a great deal of study. While there is some debate over the scope of IQ testing, it is generally accepted that those with a score of over 130 have exceptional intelligence. These individuals are so exceptional that organizations like Mensa International have been founded which base their membership on achieving such high scores.

Interestingly, those who hold extraordinary IQ scores are not always shy, studious individuals lurking in dark laboratories. Instead, people from every walk of life have demonstrated remarkable intelligence. This even includes the rich and famous. Often, these stars are known more for their performance abilities than their intelligence; however, there are a great many celebrities with impressive IQ scores.

Here are 20 famous individuals who have achieved remarkable scores.

20. James Franco (130)

Depending on how much a person knows about this extremely popular actor, this may be the most or least surprising entry on the list. Franco is best known for his collaborations with Seth Rogen in stoner comedies. It seems that the majority of his work sees him as a lovable doofus. In reality, this could not be further from the truth. Franco holds an IQ score of 130. His intelligence is best revealed in his passion for education. He has graduated from numerous esteemed schools such as UCLA and Columbia and has even taught courses. He is known for his eclectic interests, and he has even published a book of poetry.

19. Snoop Dogg (147)

Another celebrity with a surprisingly high IQ is Snoop Dogg with an IQ as high as 147. This is considered to be extraordinarily high and the IQ of a gifted genius. Even though some people might be surprised by this, Snoop Dogg’s fans beg to differ. If you pay attention to his music and lyrics, you’ll actually realize how talented and smart he is. The wordplay he expresses in his songs is truly a work of art. So one thing’s for sure, Snoop is a talented and gifted individual with a huge musical capacity.

18. Kate Beckinsale (152)

Beckinsale is famous for her acting skills and interesting roles, including in romances and action movies. While her acting abilities are undeniable, she still does not get the credit she deserves for her intelligence. Just like many other celebrities on this list, Beckinsale has attended a great educational institution. While her movie career was just starting, she was studying at Oxford University. In addition to her studies, she has managed to become multilingual. Currently, she reportedly speaks English, French, Russian, and German. Therefore, it’s no shocker that she holds an impressive IQ score of 152.

17. Nicole Kidman (132)

Kidman is one of the most celebrated and respected artists on this list. She has had a long and successful career as an actress. Her intelligence extends far beyond her acting abilities, as she reportedly has an IQ of 132. Her intelligence is likely inherited from her parents. Her mother was a nursing instructor and her father was a biologist and clinical psychologist.

16. Jodie Foster (132)

Jodie Foster has had an incredibly long and successful career. Her accomplishments as an actor are truly outstanding. However, this is one star who is nearly as famous for her mind as she is for her performances. Holding an IQ of 132, Foster has achieved some truly amazing feats of intelligence. She graduated with honors from Yale, understands English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German, and learned to read at only the age of 3.

15. Arnold Schwarzenegger (135)

Schwarzenegger’s brilliance will likely come as a surprise to many people. Whether this is because of his accent, his career as an action star, or the stereotype that people with massive muscles must be dimwitted, the fact remains that few understand his genius. Schwarzenegger holds an IQ score of 135. While he has spent the majority of his career flexing his muscles, the simple fact that he has enjoyed such great success in acting, bodybuilding, and politics over the past several decades is evidence of a very strong mind.

14. Madonna (140)

One of the most iconic and enduring stars on this list, Madonna has been music royalty for many years. Her prowess as an entertainer is not the only thing that distinguishes her from ordinary people. She holds an incredibly impressive IQ score of 140 as well. Her intelligence shone from a young age, as she was known for her exceptionally high grades. She even earned a scholarship for the University of Michigan, but she chose to drop out to pursue a career in music.

13. Natalie Portman (140)

Natalie Portman is a remarkably successful and critically-acclaimed actress. The Oscar-winner has appeared in some powerful independent films as well as massive franchises. However, her acting ability may not be her most impressive trait. With an IQ of 140, Portman has an incredibly strong mind. She can reportedly speak 5 different languages, has a degree from Harvard, and has been published in peer-reviewed journals.

12. Shakira (140)

Although known more for her hips and voice than her mind, Shakira is an entertainer whose intelligence is as significant as her performance skills. She holds an IQ score of 140. In fact, her career’s success can be attributed to her great intelligence, as she writes her own songs. In addition, she either has a fluent or partial understanding of seven different languages. Further, she has studied at UCLA and has actually established several schools.

11. Steve Martin (142)

Steve Martin is a legendary comedian and performer. With an IQ of 142, however, making people laugh was not the only future he could have chosen. While studying at California State University, he fell in love with education and even considered becoming a professor. Luckily, he eventually decided to pursue theater instead, majoring in the field before embarking on what would become an amazing career.

10. Nolan Gould (150)

Like several of the other actors on this list, Nolan Gould’s roles are not a proper indication of his intelligence in real life. His portrayal of the lovable but dopey Luke Dunphy on Modern Family may have some believing that he is vapid offscreen. However, he actually holds a remarkable IQ of 150. A youth who studied ten grades ahead of his age, Gould is a member of the high-IQ society known as Mensa. His membership in this exclusive society is a great indication of his genius, as even many of the other stars on this list do not have this honor.

9. Lisa Kudrow (152)

Of all the famous airheads on television, perhaps none are as beloved as Lisa Kurdow’s portrayal of Phoebe Buffay on Friends. In reality, however, Kudrow is a truly remarkable mind. She holds a degree from Vassar College and even assisted her father with a research project centered on the relationship between being left-handed and developing headaches.

8. Sharon Stone (154)

People cannot be faulted for not assuming that an actor and sex symbol like Sharon Stone is a remarkable thinker. However, this award-winning star holds the astounding IQ score of 154, meaning that she is as powerful in her intelligence as she is on screen. Her intelligence allowed her to accelerate in school, as she was only 5 years old when in second grade. Further, she accepted a scholarship to Edinboro University when she was only 15. Luckily for her fans, however, she left school to pursue modeling.

7. Conan O’Brien (160)

Conan O’Brien is one of late-night television’s most popular hosts. He is celebrated for his affable personality and sharp wit. While he has earned many fans for his intelligent (albeit silly) humor, few know just how impressive the mind is beneath that famous hair. Conan’s brilliance was established while in high school, as a short story that he authored won the National Council of Teachers of English writing contest. He would go on to become the valedictorian for his year. In addition, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard. His IQ is reportedly 160.

6. Matt Damon (160)

Matt Damon is one of the biggest movie stars in the world today. He is most famous for his incredible action films. However, he has reached such heights more because of his mind than his muscle. In fact, he owes the success of his breakout role in Good Will Hunting to his intelligence, as he wrote the script for an English class assignment. His IQ score stands at a highly impressive 160.

5. Dolph Lundgren (160)

The towering Swede Dolph Lundgren is another individual known for roles that do not reflect his character. Lundgren is an expert martial artist, and he has used these skills to become a highly successful action movie star. However, he is also one of the best-educated stars on this list. With an IQ of 160, it seems that Lundgren’s appetite for learning is insatiable. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology as well as a master’s from the University of Sydney in the same field. He also notably earned the rare Fulbright Scholarship to the prestigious MIT.

4. Ashton Kutcher (160)

Ashton Kutcher became famous as the goofy but charismatic Kelso on That ‘70s Show, but in reality, he could not be more different than this character. He actually has an astounding IQ score of 160, and he briefly attended the University of Iowa before deciding to drop out to pursue a career in entertainment. Kutcher now uses his powers for good. He created an organization known as Thorn that aims to fight against child pornography and sexual exploitation around the globe. His impassioned speeches about these problems show both his great character and impressive intelligence.

3. Quentin Tarantino (160)

The vast majority of the stars on this list have used their intelligence to pursue higher education. Tarantino is a notable exception to this rule; not only did he never attend college, but he also did not even graduate high school. Despite dropping out at age 15, he holds a staggeringly high IQ of 160. To achieve success in the film industry without having a formal education is impressive enough, but creating masterpieces like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs based on personal study of movies is simply astounding

2. Mayim Bialik (163)

Mayim Bialik stands out on this list not only because her IQ is incredibly high, with some reports holding that it is as high as 163, but also because of the character she played on The Big Bang Theory. Unlike many of the actors on this list, her most notable role actually matches fairly well with her true intelligence. Bialik holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Although she earned her degree from UCLA, she could have attended some other prestigious institutions as well. She had offers to study at Harvard and Yale but chose UCLA for its location.

1. Lady Gaga (166)

Credit: House of Gucci

It’s safe to say that Lady Gaga is talented, creative, and gifted. So it’s no surprise that she has an incredibly high IQ to prove it. Reportedly, Lady Gaga has an IQ of 166. Just like other celebrities on this list, she’s also very gifted and intelligent. Not just that, but her IQ number puts her in the top 0.1% of the population of world. Let’s just say, we’re eager to see what this pop culture goddess has installed for us in the future as we’re sure it’s going to be another piece of art.

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