There are many different types of intelligence, involving advances in science, mathematical genius, creative imagination, and even strategic thinking. Some people have shown exceptional intelligence throughout history, changing the world with their inventions and thoughts. The top ten most intelligent persons in the world are listed here; they are known for their achievements in many kinds of fields and their extremely high IQs.
List Of Top 10 Most Intelligent People in the World
- Terence Tao
- Christopher Hirata
- Kim Ung-Yong
- Stephen Hawking
- Judit Polgár
- Isaac Newton
- Aryabhatta
- Galileo Galilei
- Thomas Alva Edison
- Leonardo da Vinci
1. Terence Tao
You won’t believe it, but when Terence Tao was just 2 years old, he was already teaching 5-year-olds how to spell and do basic math! By the age of 10, he was competing in the International Mathematical Olympiads, winning bronze in 1986, silver in 1987, and gold in 1988—becoming the youngest-ever gold medalist in the competition.
At just 16, he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and by 20, he had completed his Ph.D. with an incredible IQ of 230. Now, at 41, he is one of the greatest mathematicians in the world.
His contributions include:
- The Green-Tao theorem on arithmetic progressions of integers.
- Theories like The Power of Convex Relaxations for removing red eyes in photos.
- Work on Polyhedral Geometry with Puzzles, which help determine facets of the Littlewood-Richardson cone.
- Research in Numerical Analysis, including Operator Splitting for the KdV equation.
Over the years, he has acquired prestigious awards, like the Fields Medal (2006), the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize (2006), and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics (2014). His genius continues to shape the world of mathematics!
2. Christopher Hirata
Christopher Hirata is often called the intelligent person in America, with an incredible IQ between 195 and 210. His brilliance was evident from a young age—he even dozed off during his SAT exam but still managed to clear it with a top score!
Today, he is 64 years old and has made famous contributions in different fields. Some of his most famous achievements have:
- Developing the Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe, a theory studying the relationship between the mind and reality.
- Co-founding the Mega Foundation with his wife, Gina LoSasso, to support gifted individuals.
- Winning $250,000 on NBC’s “1 vs. 100” contest, showcasing his vast knowledge.
- Proving that self-study and determination can lead to success, even without a formal degree.
Christopher Hirata remains a source of inspiration, proving that intelligence, curiosity, and hard work can lead to incredible achievements!
3. Kim Ung-Yong
Did you know that Kim Ung-Yong once held a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for having an IQ higher than Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein? His genius was evident from infancy—he started speaking at just four months old and, by the age of 2, could read Japanese, Korean, German, and English!
His unique journey has:
- Studying as a guest physics student at Hanyang University as a child.
- He was invited by NASA at the age of 8 to study in the United States.
- He is writing poetry in both Korean and Chinese languages.
- Publishing two short books of essays and poems, each under 20 pages.
Despite his genius, he has a strong belief in living simply. At the age of 54, he is now the Vice President of the North Kyeong-gi Development Research Center and an associate professor at Shinhan University. His life provides an excellent example of how intelligence is about living a happy and meaningful life rather than just achieving goals!
4. Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest minds in history—a cosmologist, author, theoretical physicist, and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology. Despite being diagnosed with ALS at a young age, he defied all odds and made groundbreaking contributions to science.
His remarkable achievements include:
- Predicting that black holes emit radiation, now known as Hawking Radiation.
- Being the first to develop a theory on cosmology that aligns with quantum mechanics.
- Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the U.S.
- Wrote the best-selling book ‘A Brief History of Time’, explaining his theories and the universe in simple terms.
- Authoring other influential books like ‘The Universe in a Nutshell,’ ‘The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time,’ and ‘The Grand Design.’
At 65 years old, Hawking went to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he experienced zero gravity—proving that determination can overcome any physical limitation. His life and work continue to inspire millions, showing that the power of the mind is limitless!
5. Judit Polgár
Judit Polgár is a Hungarian chess grandmaster and one of the greatest female chess players in history. Born with a remarkable talent for the game, she made history at a young age and shattered many barriers in the male-dominated world of chess.
Her incredible achievements include:
- In 1999, at just 15 years old, she defeated Bobby Fischer and became the youngest Grandmaster ever.
- In 2002, she made headlines again by defeating the world’s No. 1 player, Garry Kasparov.
- She is the only woman to appear in FIDE’s Top 100 list.
- In 2005, she became the first and only woman to surpass the 2700 Elo rating, reaching a peak of 2735 and a world ranking of No. 8.
At 40 years old, Judit Polgár remains an inspiration, proving that talent, hard work, and determination can break even the toughest barriers!
6. Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton was an extraordinary physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and alchemist, widely regarded as one of the most influential and greatest scientists of all time. His groundbreaking work not only shaped the 17th-century scientific revolution but also laid the foundation for modern physics and technology.
His remarkable contributions include:
- Universal Gravitation and Laws of Motion, which revolutionized physics.
- Developing the theory of color, explaining the spectrum and rainbow.
- Being the first to prove that color is an intrinsic property of light, showing that white light splits into seven colors when scattered, reflected, or transmitted.
- Inventing the first practical reflecting telescope.
- Making major contributions to mathematics, including power series, the binomial theorem for non-integer components, and methods for approximating roots of functions.
- Writing the legendary book ‘Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica’ (Principia), which laid down the principles of modern physics.
Newton’s work continues to influence science and technology, proving that his genius was truly ahead of his time!
7. Aryabhatta
Aryabhatta was a brilliant mathematician and astronomer, whose contributions to science, mathematics, and astronomy were far ahead of his time. His groundbreaking theories and discoveries shaped the way we understand numbers, celestial bodies, and the universe itself.
His remarkable contributions include:
- Introducing the concept of zero and explaining how to use large numbers up to 10¹⁸.
- Accurately calculating the value of ‘pi’ up to the fourth decimal point.
- Developing formulas for calculating the areas of triangles and circles.
- Estimating the circumference of the Earth as 62,832 miles, and proposing the idea of Earth’s axial rotation.
- Becoming the first astronomer to devise a continuous counting of solar days.
- Correctly explaining that eclipses occur due to the shadows of the Moon and Earth.
- Discovering that planets shine due to the reflection of sunlight.
- Introducing the “Flat Earth concept” while laying the foundation for the idea that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun.
- Incredibly, at just 24 years old, he wrote the legendary mathematical and astronomical text “Aryabhatiya”.
Aryabhatta’s contributions remain a cornerstone of modern science and mathematics, proving that his genius was truly timeless!
8. Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei was a brilliant mathematician, astronomer, and physicist, often called the “Father of Modern Astronomy.” His groundbreaking discoveries and inventions played a key role in the Scientific Revolution, changing the way we understand the universe.
His major contributions include:
- Establishing the foundations of modern science through his experiments and observations.
- Inventing the telescope, which allowed him to explore the skies like never before.
- Making historic astronomical discoveries, such as:
- Confirming the phases of Venus, proving that planets orbit the Sun.
- Discovering the four largest moons of Jupiter (now called the Galilean moons).
- Observing and analyzing sunspots, challenging the belief that celestial bodies were perfect.
- Inventing the military compass, a tool that helped improve precision in warfare and navigation.
Galileo’s work revolutionized astronomy and physics, laying the foundation for modern space exploration and scientific thinking!
9. Thomas Alva Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was a prolific innovator and the best businessman. He led America’s first technical revolution and was the engine behind discoveries and inventions that helped to create the country’s economy.
His major contributions include:
- He was the first inventor to have an innovation laboratory.
- He also invented the first electric bulb. Do you know the first one lasted 40 hours and the second one lasted 225 hours?
- Do you know that he invented a movie camera?
- He invented the Fluoroscope and rechargeable battery.
10. Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was a mathematician, musician, polymath, sculptor, engineer, architect, inventor, anatomist, and writer.
His major contributions include:
- He was the first person who study the human body.
- He invents things like tanks, parachutes, helicopters, etc.
- He is a famous artist, painter, and musician and he is one of his available paintings is of Mona Lisa and many are exhibited in museums, art galleries, etc.
- He contributed to geology and drew maps of different places.
- He can also write backward.
- He was a spirit of the Renaissance and known for his imagination, inventions, and utmost curiosity.
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Bottom Line:
These great people have proven to be highly intelligent in many different kinds of fields, like science, math, the arts, and creativity. Their revolutionary achievements have influenced the advancement of humanity for a long time along with shaping their particular fields. Their genius inspires succeeding generations, revealing that intelligence has the power to genuinely transform the world.
