Top 20 Celebrities with Incredibly High IQ

Top 20 Celebrities with Incredibly High IQ

Originally published by Hamisi on May 26 2023 and updated by Benji M in February 2024

A disputed way to determine someone’s IQ score is to use their intelligence quotient. Anything beyond 130 is regarded as extraordinary. Most people think that celebrities are not particularly intelligent since they are actors, musicians, or socialites. Celebrities with the greatest IQs in the world today, however, disprove this idea. Celebrities with the highest IQs have excelled in both their professional and academic lives. Their achievements in the disciplines they pursue speak for themselves. Some of the most intelligent celebrities have several degrees from prestigious colleges and high IQs that can be verified. Others have a track record of devoting several hours to learning challenging material. Here is a list of the Top 15 Celebrities with Incredibly High IQ. It is not exhaustive and in no particular order.

1. James Woods

James Woods (1995 Emmy Awards). photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Who in the world has the highest IQ? It’s taken by James Woods. He attended school in Warwick, Rhode Island, where he was reared after being born in Vernal, Utah. He registered at Massachusetts Institute of Technology to become an ophthalmologist. A semester before graduating from college, James left to pursue a career in acting. He began in the theater but has since expanded into a variety of television programs and films. His IQ is said to be between 180 and 184.

Woods is well-known for playing the Disney villain Hades in Hercules and for appearing in movies including Once Upon a Time in America, Ghosts of Mississippi, Salvador, and Casino. Two Emmy Awards and two Academy Award nominations are among the acting accolades.

2. Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson. Antonio Zugaldia from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

He established himself as one of England’s finest comic actors. Rowan is well-known for portraying the fumbling, infantile Mr. Bean. His IQ puts him in the second spot among famous geniuses. He pursued electrical engineering studies at Newcastle and Oxford Universities, earning two electrical engineering degrees. His debut in the spotlight came on the BBC sketch comedy program “Not the Nine O’clock News.” In 1981, Rowan won the BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance. Blackadder and Mr. Bean, as well as the movies Never say Never Again, Four Weddings and A Funeral, and The Thin Blue Line, are some of his best-known creations. He recorded an IQ of 178.

3. Reggie Jackson

Professional baseball player Reggie Jackson. New York Yankees via tradingcarddb.com, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most intelligent celebs is Reggie. Reggie Jackson, whose full name is Reginald Martinez Jackson, is a professional baseball player from the United States who goes by the moniker “Mr. October.” He was born on May 18, 1946, in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. He excelled in high school on the baseball pitch, football field, and single athlete list. After a catastrophic high school injury, he defied the doctor’s instructions to never engage in any sporting activity again. He was given many football scholarships, but he turned them down out of fear of racial discrimination. Since Arizona State University would allow him to compete in two sports, he made that choice. He later engaged in professional baseball.

Reggie Jackson played baseball for 20 years, winning 11 division crowns and five global championships with his clubs. He earned 12 visits to the All-Star Game, won the American League home run title four times, and possessed “the most famous left-handed swing in the business,” according to the Chicago Tribune. He blasted 563 home runs throughout his outstanding big league career as an outfielder and designated hitter, which ranks sixth all-time in the history of the sport. He ranks first all-time in strikeouts with 2,597, on the other hand. His IQ is recorded as 160.

4. Quentin Tarantino

The films of American director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino, real name Quentin Jerome Tarantino, are known for their sleek neo-noir violence, incisive language, and obsession with cinema and popular culture. On March 27, 1963, Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.

His films demonstrate that he is one of the performers with a high IQ. They are well-written, insightful, and controversial. His films have a distinct look that draws audiences to them. He received employment as an usher at a theater for adults after finishing high school early. He constantly running with celebrities from Hollywood while doing odd jobs since he was so into movies. Once he had completed writing From Dusk ‘Til Dawn, he experienced a breakthrough. His IQ is recorded as 160.

5. Matt Damon

Given how successful he was as a youth, Matt Damon has one of the highest IQs. He went to Harvard, but he didn’t finish the last 12 classes he needed to pass to get his degree. He penned the screenplay for the movie Good Will Hunting while a student there. Reviewers gave him high marks for his first two movies, Courage Under Fire and Geronimo: An American Legend. He won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay for turning his college thesis into a full-length film. The IQ of the Hollywood heavyweight, who is 160,

6. Conan O’Brien

Conan O’Brien speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Conan is sixth on my list of famous people with the highest IQs. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in history and literature. Early on, he shown literary skill, and in high school, he won a national award. He wrote for the Harvard Crimson and the lighthearted Harvard Lampoon while still a student. After completing his degree, he relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he continued to contribute to HBO’s Not Necessarily the News and Late Night with David Letterman. With Letterman’s help, he obtained a lucrative deal with Comedy Central. He is best known as the host of Conan (2010–21), The Tonight Show (2009–10), and Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993–2009). With an IQ of 160, Conan O’Brien qualifies as “exceptionally gifted” according to the IQ scale.

7. Ashton Kutcher

Ashton is one of the well-known individuals with a high IQ. Although he attended Lowa University, he was once kicked out of his apartment for excessive partying. A talent scout convinced him to participate in a neighboring modeling contest, which he later won. His investments’ astounding success serves as evidence of his high IQ. Actor, producer, and businessman Ashton Kutcher hails from the United States. As Michael Kelso on the Fox comedy That ’70s Show, he became famous in 1998. Additionally, Kutcher has appeared in episodes of Punk’d, Two and a Half Men, and The Ranch. With an IQ of 160, Ashton Kutcher is in the top 0.1 percent of all people in the world.

8. Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone, 2017. Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sharon is one of the most intelligent actors in the world. She was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and entered the second grade when she was five years old. She entered Edinboro University after graduating from high school a year earlier. She wanted to be a lawyer, but she liked to watch movies. The victor of a local beauty pageant relocated to New York on the recommendation of one of the judges. She also did acting, which contributed to her being a well-known figure. The IQ score for Sharon Stone was 154.

She has received several honors, including a Prime time Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award nomination. She was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995, and in 2005, she was given the French title of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (she became Commander in 2021).

9. Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow at the 2009 Streamy awards. Lan Bui, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lisa attended Taft High School in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, where she was reared, before going on to Vassar College. She aspired to become a headache expert like her father. After receiving her degree, she went back to Los Angeles and started working at her father’s hospital. She was inspired to try comedy by her brother’s boyhood friend John Lithgow. For five years, Lisa took small roles after starting her acting career at The Groundling Acting School. Later, she portrayed Phoebe in the Friends television series. A psychobiology degree from Vassar College with an IQ of 154. It appears that playing the fool requires a high level of intelligence.

10. Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford. Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the well-known people with the highest IQs ever is Cindy Crawford. She received the best honors at Illinois High School. She thus obtained a scholarship to study chemical engineering at Northwestern University. After a quarter, she traveled to New York to start a modeling career. She was among the most well-known 1990s models. She achieved international popularity as a result of her 30-year modeling career, which resulted in speaking engagements, movie and television roles, and sponsorship deals. According to Forbes magazine, she was the highest-paid model in the world in 1995. She had an IQ of 154.

11. Nolan Gould

Actor Nolan Gould at the 2015 PaleyFest.iDominick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

American actor Nolan Gould was born on October 28, 1998. He is an American actor best known for playing Luke Dunphy in the mockumentary comedy “Modern Family.” Gould was born in New York City, and at the young age of three, he started acting in commercials. He began performing in movies at the age of nine, including “The McPassion,” “Montana,” and “Space Buddies.” When he was given a significant part in the television series “Modern Family,” he experienced his first taste of mainstream popularity. Luke Dunphy, a dimwitted character played by Gould, is depicted. Over the years, the series has received high praise from reviewers and, to date, has won 22 Emmy Awards. TV Guide included it in their list of the “60 Best Stories of All Time.” He claimed to have a 150 IQ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

12. Danica McKellar

Danica McKellar has an IQ of 154, which is not unexpected considering how passionate she is about arithmetic and the fact that the “Chayes-McKellar-Winn” theorem bears her name. No matter what job she plays, including those of an actress, writer, scriptwriter, and director, or producer, wisdom is beautiful. It is not just in her achievement as a mathematician. This multi-talented woman demonstrates her philanthropic acumen by using her love of math as the impetus for her efforts to make math more approachable for teens, especially young girls and women.

The American television comedy-drama “The Wonder Years,” which aired on ABC for six seasons from 1988 to 1993, is where Danica McKellar is most recognized for her work. The program was listed on the Nielsen Top 30 list for four of those six seasons. The show helped her become well-known across America.

13. Natalie Portman

Unquestionably, one of the top actresses working in the entertainment world today is Natalie Portman. Perhaps people are not aware of her excellent IQ despite the fact that she has won an Oscar. She has a highly sharp intellect since, according to reports, she has an IQ of 140. Twice, Natalie Portman’s writing has appeared in scholarly journals. The star of “Black Swan” graduated from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard, making her the first alumna to receive the Academy Award for best actress.

14. Emma Watson

Emma Watson’s IQ score is recorded as 138. As a result, she fits the description of a clever person. She belongs to the top 3% of thinkers in the planet. She worked on the Harry Potter film sets alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint for the most of her life, spending five hours a day in teaching sessions while she was there. She graduated from high school and enrolled at Brown University after taking a gap year. She has also accomplished a lot since making her debut as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter. She has advocated for a variety of issues about which she is passionate, and by blogging about some of her favorite books, she even reveals a bit of herself to us.

15. Ken Jeong

Ken Jeong, a Korean-American actor, is most known for his eccentric Leslie Chow character in the “The Hangover” film series. Is Ken Jeong genuinely brilliant? Ken Jeong’s IQ is higher than you may think. What a stunning assessment for Ken Jeong’s IQ—a 130 IQ score. He finally made the decision to abandon his medical practice in order to pursue his acting career. You’ve undoubtedly already heard that Ken Jeong is an excellent actor and doctor, but did you know that he’s also brilliant? Based on his appearances in The Hangover, you would not instantly believe that this actor is as smart as he is, but he is really one of the most intellectual people of his generation.

If Ken decides to take a vacation from acting, he has a highly successful career in other sectors despite being most known for his role as the mobster Leslie Chow in the Hangover trilogy. In the ABC television series Dr. Ken, which he wrote, produced, and developed based on his own experiences as a doctor, he presently plays the lead character. Due to Ken Jeong’s IQ of 130, he was a gifted student who played the violin in the symphony, belonged to his school’s High IQ team, and graduated at the age of 16 with a Youth of The Year Award.

16. Shakira

Junta de Andalucía, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shakira is amazing! You know, she’s not just a talented singer. She can speak a bunch of languages, like Spanish, English, and Portuguese. And get this – her IQ is really high, like super smart! It’s around 140, which is way above average. That means she’s really clever, not just in music but in other stuff too. It’s cool to see someone like her, who’s famous for singing and dancing, also being really brainy. It shows that you can be good at lots of things, not just one. So, next time you hear her songs on the radio, remember she’s not just a great voice, but a smart cookie too!

17. Steve Martin

You know Steve Martin, right? The funny guy from movies like “Cheaper by the Dozen”? Well, he’s not just hilarious, he’s really smart too! He went to college and studied something called philosophy, which is all about thinking and asking big questions. He graduated from a place called California State University. That’s where he learned a lot about writing and thinking deeply. Even though he’s known for making people laugh, he’s also a talented writer and playwright. It’s pretty cool to see someone who can be so funny also be really thoughtful and smart. It shows that you can have more than one talent and be good at lots of different things. So, next time you watch one of his movies, remember there’s a brain behind all that humor!

18. John Legend

Toglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

He’s not just a singer, he’s really smart too! He went to a big university called the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied English. That’s pretty cool, right? English is all about reading and writing, and he must be really good at it to go to such a fancy university. He even focused on reading books by African-American writers. That’s important because it helps people learn about different cultures and perspectives. Even though he’s famous for singing, he’s also really into books and literature. It’s neat to see someone who can sing so beautifully also be interested in learning and reading. It shows that you can have different talents and interests. So, next time you listen to one of his songs, think about all the books he’s read too!

19. Jodie Foster

You know Jodie Foster, right? She’s not just an actress; she’s really smart too! She went to a big university called Yale, where she studied something called literature. That’s all about reading and understanding stories. She must be really good at it to go to such a famous university. Even though she’s famous for acting in movies, she’s also really interested in books and stories. It’s cool to see someone who can pretend to be different people on screen also be interested in reading and understanding stories. It shows that you can have different talents and interests. So, next time you watch one of her movies, think about all the books she’s read too! It’s neat to know that she’s not just a great actress, but also a smart person who loves stories.

20. Dolph Lundgren

Toglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dolph Lundgren is pretty cool! You might know him from action movies like “Rocky IV” or “The Expendables.” But guess what? He’s not just a tough guy on screen; he’s also really smart! He went to a university in Sweden and studied something called chemical engineering. That’s all about mixing stuff together to make new things. It’s pretty neat! Even though he’s famous for fighting bad guys in movies, he’s also really good at science and math. It’s awesome to see someone who can kick butt in movies also be interested in learning about chemicals and how they work. It shows that you can have different talents and interests. So, next time you watch one of his movies, remember he’s not just tough – he’s also pretty brainy!