Top 10 Celebs with the Highest IQ

While the main characters on “The Big Bang Theory” - except for Penny - are all geniuses, at least one of the actors playing them is as well. Or at least according to her reported IQ score of somewhere between 153 and 160. Mayim Bialik played a neurobiologist on the show, but in her real life the actress has a doctorate in neuroscience which she got at UCLA. A fact that was actually referenced on the show prior to Bialik becoming a cast member. And for the record - we would definitely want Mayim Bialik on our Physics Bowl team.

While numerous actresses turned down the role of Catherine Tramell in 1992’s “Basic Instinct,” Sharon Stone was smart enough to say yes to the role that would make her a star. And speaking of smart, Ms. Stone doesn’t just get high marks for her beauty and acting ability. Stone has a beautiful brain as well. One that had her starting grade two when she was just five years old, and one that has given her an IQ score that is reported to be somewhere in the low to mid 150s.

When it comes to being funny, hosting late night talk shows and even doing an invisible string dance - there’s no doubting the fact that Conan O'Brien is exceptionally gifted. But those words could also be used to describe his placement on the IQ scale. For those unaware of the scale, the “exceptionally gifted” range begins at 160 and goes all the way to 179. O’Brien, who was valedictorian of his high school class and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1985, has an IQ that stands at 160.

Dolph Lundgren is a perfect example of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Or more precisely, don’t judge an actor’s IQ by the characters they play. Lundgren made his name as a martial artist and action star and has always been known more for his big muscles than his big brain. But did you know that he speaks fluent English and Swedish and can speak a little French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish as well? He also has a master's degree in chemical engineering and received a Fulbright Scholarship to MIT - although he left to become an actor. His IQ is reported to be 160.

Matt Damon didn’t just play a wicked smart guy in “Good Will Hunting” - he is one. We aren’t saying that Damon could’ve solved the math problems that Will Hunting does in the movie (and Damon wouldn’t say that either). But he did write the very first draft of the script that would become “Good Will Hunting” for a theater course he was taking at the prestigious Harvard University. And as for his IQ: while we have seen it listed at 143, most places report Damon to be sporting an even more impressive 160 IQ.

While many of the characters he’s played have IQ’s that we can only assume would be lucky to hit high double digits, Ashton Kutcher himself has an IQ well past 100. Yup, the guy who played Michael Kelso and the dude that couldn’t find his car has an IQ that’s higher than most of you. Unless your IQ is 161 - because according to most reports Kutcher’s comes in at 160. Although we’ve also seen sources claim it’s only 154. Either way it’s quite an impressive number. And no, you aren’t being “Punk’d.”

Have you ever met a high school drop out with a 163 IQ? Well, if you’ve met Quentin Tarantino then yes you have - although, some reports list Tarantino with a 160 IQ rather than 163. He was living in Los Angeles at the time when he decided that Narbonne High School in Harbor City just wasn’t for him. He had a number of jobs before eventually making it to Sundance with “Reservoir Dogs” and launching himself to fame and a directing career that rivals many of the best to ever do it.

Electrical engineering isn’t very funny, but it is what Rowan Atkinson devoted much of his time to before taking the comedic path we are all familiar with. Before there was “Blackadder” and before there was “Mr. Bean,” there was Atkinson graduating with a bachelor of science in electrical and electronic engineering. And he followed that up with a Masters of Science degree in electrical engineering from The Queen's College, Oxford. So, what’s his IQ you ask? Would you be impressed if we told you it was 170? Well, if so, you’ll be even more impressed when we tell you Atkinson’s IQ is actually reported to be 178.

What did you get on your SATs? If you answered 1579 then you have something in common with actor James Woods. Woods studied at MIT and was on a path to become an eye surgeon but dropped out before graduating in order to do the whole acting thing. Based on that massively impressive SAT score, reports have Woods’ IQ at 180 or 184 (depending on who you ask). And to put that high number in a little context - Einstein’s IQ has been estimated by many to have been around 160.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Jim Carrey
The “Dumb and Dumber” Star Has a Reported IQ of 153

Goldie Hawn
Hawn Is in Mensa With Her 140+ IQ

Danica McKellar
Danica McKellar Has a 154 IQ & a Mathematical Theory Named After Her

Aisha Tyler
Tyler Is Beautiful, Funny, Talented & Rocking a Reported 156 IQ

Lisa Kudrow
Kudrow’s Reported IQ is 154 - (Insert Your Own Phoebe Joke Here)

How many rock guitar astrophysicists are there? We don’t know. But we do know there’s at least one of them - and that man is Brian May. Rolling Stone ranked him as the 33rd greatest guitarist of all time and a Guitar World reader’s poll ranked him at number two. But neither of those numbers is as impressive as the number 180 - which happens to be May’s reported IQ (we’ve even seen some sources list it a tad higher at 181). And that astrophysicist thing ain’t no gimmick either. Not only does May have a PhD in the field, he’s also worked with NASA as a science team collaborator. And he wrote "We Will Rock You" and "Fat Bottomed Girls." ‘Nuff said!


Which of these high IQs surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments