Smarter Than Bill Gates
An IQ of 100 is about average, but Leonardo da Vinci is estimated to have reached 220. Now that’s smart!
I.Q. scores have been measured since 1916, when Alfred Binet developed his intelligence scale. He graduated the scale in the following way:
IQ Scores
- 130+ Very superior
- 120+ Superior
- 110+ Above average
- 99+ Average
- 80+ Below average
- 70+ Borderline
- Less than 70 Extremely low.
Items included in IQ tests range from spatial awareness where you have to match patterns, to number sequences, and words. There is a free IQ testing site online.
IQ tests used to be standardized but now they are designed by many different organizations in an attempt to measure certain qualities in candidates. For example, Mensa, the High IQ Society, sets its own test which is very difficult in parts. One example of a Mensa question:
Take these letters:
C E I L M E R S S
Form two different 8 letter words from these letters. Each word must use all the letters.
Intelligence and personality have been combined to give sten and z-scores. These are often used by companies who want to recruit staff with particular traits and abilities.
Some very famous celebrities are know for their extremely high IQ level.
Bill Gates: Genius
Madonna 140
Al Gore 140
Hugh Hefner 152
Carol Vorderman 154
Bill Gates 160
Jill St. John 162
Jill St. John who claims the highest score on this list was a major American film actress during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Jill was admitted to the University of California at the age of 14.
Psychologists have estimated the IQ scores that some famous historical figures might have attained. This was done by looking at their work and their ideas and the way they put them together.
Leonardo da Vinci: Smarter than Bill Gates
George Washington 118
Napoleon Bonaparte 145
Albert Einstein 160
Charles Dickens 180
Michelangelo 180
Leonardo da Vinci 220
Leonardo da Vinci earns that massive score for his art but also for his helicopter concept . His solar power diagrams, calculator plans, and studies of plate techtonics. He had none of the modern day scientific equipment and he was way ahead of his time.
Liked it
User Comments
Judy Sheldon
On April 12, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Amazing and fascinating… Thank you.
Dee Huff
On April 12, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Fun. I tried the test, but got tired. Maybe I’ll try it again tomorrow.
Lucy Lockett
On April 13, 2008 at 6:00 am
Intelligent tests are fun but they offer no help when it comes to seeing who will be successful.
Beef
On April 13, 2008 at 1:55 pm
#3 is right i score 120+ range and im a total idiot to most stuff, maybe i view things differently, but thats all life is really, perceptions.
IcyCucky
On April 13, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Fun and amazing!
Merciless & Crimeless
On April 13, 2008 at 3:34 pm
How can you make two eight-letter words and use all the letters in each word?
There are nine letters.
louie jerome
On April 13, 2008 at 4:21 pm
There’s a misprint #7 It should read make 2 nine letter words using all the letters for each.
#6 Well, no prizes for guessing where you would be on the scale making remarks like that! Because you don’t like it, it doesn’t make it BS.
#4 Nobody said that IQ and success were the same. IQ is just a way of measuring intelligence. You are probably very good at certain aspects. Having a high IQ doesn’t make anyone good at anything…it’s how they apply it that matters. That’s exactly what Lucy locket said!
louie jerome
On April 13, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Aren’t you clever, #7 ???
nobert soloria bermosa
On April 13, 2008 at 5:27 pm
this is a nice article,nice job Louie.
Merciless & Crimeless
On April 13, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Didn’t your mother tell you?
“If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
Jack
On April 13, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Considering how vague an actual IQ test is, the idea of estimating someones IQ based on their body of work is downright hilarious.
Ruby Hawk
On April 13, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Isn’t it surprising that with such high intelligence Jill St. John became an actress? She could have done someting of real importance.
Gerlaine
On April 13, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Awesome, I am going to take the IQ test.
Gerlaine
On April 13, 2008 at 8:55 pm
My IQ is 136! I am above average!
Xanadu
On April 14, 2008 at 12:08 am
Excellent article – do you have any references to backup the IQ info? It would quickly quiet the naysayers
louie jerome
On April 14, 2008 at 3:35 am
Lots of different views here and some even ‘rubbish’ the idea of IQ tests, but it doesn’t change the fact that a combination of IQ and psychometric testing is being used by many employers to select staff. In UK civil servants, government employees, armed forces and police under go these tests and they are common place in recruiting for all kinds of jobs. For some positions you need a high score but for others too high a score will get you rejected.
keyboardologist
On April 14, 2008 at 5:19 am
Congrats. on making the hot content list. My I.Q. was meassured at 140, and I’m a complete screw up. I read in a news article, that large corporations are turning to musicians because of their abstract thinking.
louie jerome
On April 14, 2008 at 6:00 am
#18 Thanks. Mine measured 140 too but I’m not sure what that means, if anything! Maybe I’m good at puzzles. LOL
Anne Lyken-Garner
On April 14, 2008 at 8:28 am
My husband has got a genius IQ but he says that they only measure how good you are at taking tests, that’s all. They cannot possibly measure your overall intelligence.
Tracy Woolrich
On April 14, 2008 at 9:30 am
Eeeeek! I used to have an IQ in the 140’s 20 years ago. I just tested at 118 along with George Washington. I always thought that my children sucked out my brains! LOL LOL
CHAN LEE PENG
On April 14, 2008 at 10:08 am
Amazing!
Patz
On April 14, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I wondered how my IQ was measure using that 20 point questionnaire. I got 140 and I wondered which ones I did right or what’s the wisdom behind the answers to the questions. I think it’s biased to western standards as even the names of states/country is westernized. I’m living in a tropical country.
Anyhow, it’s comforting to know at least I have an IQ equal to Al Gore whose Global Warming account I like very much. It’s great taking that quiz and of course your article. Keep it up.
lianne marie
On April 15, 2008 at 12:52 am
very interesting!!
jo
On May 9, 2008 at 12:28 pm
….I got 160. Hey, I’m as smart as Bill Gates. My parents and teachers believe that I have psychological problems…..
oh well.
Only person who understands me is my friend Linz. Maybe her I.Q. is higher….
M
On July 23, 2008 at 3:36 pm
My iq is 184
dave
On January 24, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I used to be smart , i have no idea what happened to me.
aaron
On March 24, 2009 at 11:09 am
is this thing for real. i think it shows a bit high for everybody includin me.
Zsolt from Budapest
On April 5, 2009 at 4:48 pm
yes…true that ‘giant’ enforces, and performances relates to smart people…I was measured for 134-139…I develop further myself…more areas of life…of course my hobby is job as well…but new challenges…like anytime people management…
Kyu
On May 8, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Takes a real, state approved IQ test, not those crappy online ones. My IQ is 130 if you’d like to know.
Louie Jerome
On May 8, 2009 at 3:51 pm
#29 Someone of your assumed intelligence should realise that this is a fun item and not intended to measure anything exactly. By the way which state, which country approved your IQ test? It’s a big wide world you know and where ever you live is a small part of it. The truth is that IQ tests just measure how good you are at taking IQ tests. A child can be coached and get scores of over 140 every time.
Prince Myshkin
On July 23, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I scored a 80 on the online test. People call me an idiot.
sam
On September 19, 2009 at 4:05 pm
i have consistently scored above 150 in iq tests, where’s my million?
Post Comment