The highest IQ ever recorded is attributed to YoungHoon Kim from South Korea, with an IQ score of 276 as of 2024. This score has been verified by organizations such as the Giga Society and the World Genius Directory. Kim's expertise spans psychology, neuroscience, and linguistics
. Other notable individuals with extremely high IQs include:
- Terence Tao (IQ 230), an Australian-American mathematician recognized for his work in harmonic analysis and partial differential equations
- Marilyn vos Savant (IQ 228), an American author known for her column "Ask Marilyn" and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for her IQ
- Christopher Hirata (IQ 225), an astrophysicist who earned a Ph.D. by age 22 and has contributed to cosmology and dark energy research
- Kim Ung-Yong (IQ 210), a South Korean civil engineer and former child prodigy
While historical figures like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe are estimated to have had IQs in the range of 210–225 based on retrospective calculations, YoungHoon Kim currently holds the highest verified IQ score on record
. In summary, YoungHoon Kim holds the highest recorded IQ ever at 276, surpassing other well-known high-IQ individuals.
