Top 20 Celebrities with High IQ & 10 with Low IQ

IQ is the Intelligence Quotient, an instrument widely used to determine an individual’s cognitive capability and ability to come up with meaningful responses. In the digital world of celebrities giving interviews and making dumb statements, many wonder about the IQ scores of these influential people.

Want to know more? Here is a list of the top 20 celebrities with high IQ and 10 with low IQ. Let’s see whether your favorite star is present here.

Celebrities with High IQ

1. Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow is best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the Friends TV show. Contrary to her role, she is one of the smartest female celebrities with an IQ score of 152. Lisa graduated with a science degree in psychology from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie.

Lisa originally aspired to become a headache expert and even worked at her father’s hospital in LA. Before her breakthrough in the Friends TV series, Lisa took small roles at the Groundling Acting School. Her acting journey was largely inspired by her boyhood friend, John Lithgow.

2. Alicia Keys

Alicia Augello Cook, professionally known as Alicia Keys, is a songwriter and singer. She is yet another intelligent woman with an Intelligence Quotient score of 154. Alicia began writing and composing songs when she was 12 and even signed record deals with Columbia Records at the age of just 15 years.

She started her career in 1985 with an appearance on The Cosby Show as Maria and had subsequent performances in teenage shows. Her breakthrough came in 1998 to 2002 with her album, Songs in a Minor, with Columbia Records. Alicia also won five awards for the album at the 44th Annual Grammy ceremony.

3. Conan O’Brien

Being a TV host, writer, producer, and comedian, Conan O’Brien has been hosting late-night TV shows for three decades. He is a conventionally intelligent man and possesses a 160 IQ score. You would probably know Conan from his infamous Late Night with Conan O’Brien show and The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

In addition, his intelligence is evident through his academic journey. Conan has a graduate degree in History and Literature from Harvard University and even won a national award for his literary skills. Over the years, he has enjoyed lucrative deals with Harvard Crimson, Havard Lampoon, and Comedy Central.

4. Nolan Gould

You would recognize Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy from the Modern Family. Yes, the beloved star Nolan Gould has an IQ score of 150, as he reported on the Ellen DeGeneres Show at the age of 13, making him the next high IQ celebrity. He is also a member of Mensa and took the GED test when he was 13.

He started performing in movies when he was nine and has starred in shows like The McPassion, Montana, and Space Buddies. Over the years, Nolan received 22 Emmy Awards and was included in the list of TV Guide’s 60 Best Stories of All Time.

5. Matt Damon

Matt Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and film producer with an IQ of 160. He is one of the highest-grossing actors and Forbes one of the most bankable stars. Damon studied English Literature at Harvard and dropped out before graduating.

During his college years, Damon penned the screenplay for his debut movie Good Will Hunting, which came out as a big success and received an Academy Award. In this movie, he played the character of an extraordinary genius. He also wrote gems like Geronimo: An American Legend and Courage Under Fire.

6. Ben Affleck

Benjamin Geze Affleck is yet another American actor and filmmaker from the geniuses group with an IQ score of 154. He went to Rindge Latin School and the University of Vermont but didn’t complete graduation. Affleck is renowned for his extraordinary performances in Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gone Girl, and Good Will Hunting.

Moreover, the actor received an honorary doctorate degree from Brown University in 2013. He is also the recipient of several awards, including Academy, BAFTA, and three Golden Globes.

7. Rowan Atkinson

Known best for his role as Mr Bean, Rowan Atkinson is an English actor, comedian, and writer. He definitely falls into the category of gifted individuals with an IQ score of 178. Given his conventional intelligence, he pursued two degrees in electrical engineering at Newcastle and Oxford University.

Atkinson came into the limelight with his BBC sketch comedy “Not the Nine O’clock News”. He also starred in a radio show called The Atkinson People, a series of satirical interviews with fictional people. Later on, he ventured into some of the best comedic roles for Mr. Bean, Johnny English, and Blackadder.

8. James Woods

James Woods, the American actor, is the celebrity with the highest reported IQ score of 180 in the world. He has an intelligent aura and a wise personality, and most recognize him for his fast-talking and intense roles on screen. Woods enrolled in MIT in 1969, however, dropped out one semester before graduation to pursue acting.

After this, he began theater acting and soon expanded his scope to TV programs like Once Upon a Time in America, Salvador, Ghosts of Mississippi, and Casino. His breakthrough came with his role as Hercules in a Disney Villain Hades show. Woods also won two Emmy awards and two Academy nominations for his acting.

9. Sharon Stone

The actress Sharon Stone is among the celebrities with a higher IQ in Hollywood with a 154 score. She is famous for receiving a Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995. Sharon entered Edinboro University for a law degree but left it in the middle to pursue her acting career.

Her best-selling movies include Casino, Total Recall, The Specialist, and Basic Instinct. Sharon has received honors like a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, and an Academy nomination. In 2005, she was awarded the French title, “Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters”.

10. Ashton Kutcher

Actor Christopher Ashton Kutcher was not originally determined to do acting, rather he majored in biochemical engineering at the University of Iowa. Though he didn’t complete his degree, Kutcher’s intelligence is not unfamiliar to the public. He has an IQ score of 160 and is a successful technology entrepreneur.

His first acting gig was The 70s Show on Fox Comedy and later appeared in a few episodes of Punk’d, The Ranch, and Two and a Half Men. He made a film debut in the rom-com movie, Coming Soon, followed by Where’s My Car? And received deserved praise for these two movies.

11. Arnold Schwarzeneggerr

Everyone knows Arnold Schwarzenegger; he is an actor, former California governor, and former professional bodybuilder. He is an intelligent man with a reported IQ score of 132. Arnold is best known for his roles in high-profile action films like The Terminator, Commando, Predator, and Conan The Barbarian.

He began weightlifting when he was 15 and won the Mr. Universe five years later. He even won Mr. Olympia seven times consecutively and is regarded as one of the most successful bodybuilders of all time. Not only this, but Arnold also served in the Austrian Army in 1965 and underwent AWOL training.

12. Natalie Portman

Who doesn’t know about Natalie Portman; she is currently the top actress in the entertainment industry. She has a sharp intellect and natural wit, much of which is accredited to her IQ score of 140. Reportedly, she has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and her writings have also been published in scholarly journals.

Natalie is fluent in five languages and started acting in her teenage years. She has starred in some best-selling movies like Thor, Black Swan, V for Vendetta, No Strings Attached, and The Other Boleyn Girl. Natalie has also won an Academy Award and two Golden Globes.

13. Madonna

Madonna Louise Ciccone, known as the Queen of Pop, is an American singer and actress. She is among the top celebrities with a high intelligence quotient and has a score of 140. Madonna studied Performing Arts at the University of Michigan and won a scholarship to fund her degree.

Over the years, she has come up with best-selling albums like Hung Up, Material Girl, Frozen, and Vogue. Her work mostly incorporates themes like society, politics, sex, and religion, and has been attracting both critic’s acclaim and controversy.

14. Cindy Crawford

In the 1980s, Cindy Crawford started as a supermodel and later expanded into business and acting. She is an intelligent woman with a 154 IQ score, making her a gifted individual in conventional intelligence.

She was explored as a model while Cindy was studying chemical engineering at Northwestern University and used her contract money to fund her education. However, she didn’t complete her education and dropped out of the university to pursue her modeling career.

15. Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman is the daughter of a nursing instructor and a biochemist; hence, many believe her intelligence is hereditary. She has a reported IQ of 132, but she dropped out of university to pursue her acting career. Over the years, Nicole has consistently ranked among the highest-paid actresses globally.

Her popular work includes films like Big Little Lies, Aquaman, Expats, Batman Forever, and Days of Thunder. Nicole has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, six Golden Globes, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. She even received a Gala Tribute at the NY Film Festival in 2012.

16. Shakira

Shakira is a talented singer and multilingual, and her IQ is really high. It is anywhere around 140, making her smarter than an average individual. Often called the Queen of Latin Music, Shakira Isabel Mebarak is a songwriter, dancer, model, record producer, and choreographer.

A few of her high-ranked albums include Sale el Sol, TQG, Laundry Service, and Oral Fixation. Over the years, she has received numerous honors like Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and Billboard Latin Music Awards. She is also a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

17. Lady Gaga

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, popularly known as Lady Gaga has an IQ score of 166. She is an American songwriter, singer, and actress, and has built an image of versatility in the industry for quite some time. Gaga has appeared in many best-selling movies like A Star is Born, Joker, The Batman, House of Gucci, and American Horror Story.

She studied music and theater at the New York School of Arts and has been an academically bright student. Her career started during her teenage years with performances at open mic nights. Later on, she amalgamated different genres of music, from rock to pop and dance music, a big reason for her massive fan following.

18. Quentin Tarantino

With an IQ of 160, Quentin Tarantino, a famous American film director, screenwriter, and actor is the next celebrity with a high IQ on this list. Despite his intelligence, he didn’t pursue college due to unfortunate experiences during Junior High. He is popularly known for his obsession with cinema and pop culture.

His films have a unique sense of identity and insightful yet controversial screenplays, one reason the audiences are drawn to them. He has produced gems like Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Natural Born Killers. In 2020, Tarantino became an official film critic on Rotten Tomatoes.

19. John Legend

John Roger Stephens, popularly known as John Legend, is not only a singer but a smart individual with an IQ score of 142. He is a renowned American singer, songwriter, pianist, actor, and record producer. Legend won three Grammy awards for Lifted, Ordinary People, and So High.

Given his intelligence, Legend pursued an English Literature degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He has always been inclined towards music and began playing piano at the age of 4, and performed with the church choir three years later. He was home-schooled and also skipped two grades for his academic talent.

20. Emma Watson

She perfectly fits the description of an intelligent person. Emma Watson has an aura of a well-spoken, intelligent, and thoughtful aura, not to mention an IQ score of 138. She belongs to the top 3% of thinkers on the planet, an avid reader, an activist, a champion of human rights, and a successful actor.

She is best known for her role as Hermoine in J.K Rowling’s popular Harry Potter film set, alongside Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe. Given her academic intelligence, she pursued a degree at Brown University after taking a gap year and completing her film series. Watson also received MTV movie awards and the Young Artist award.

Celebrities with Low IQ

1. Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian is an American socialite, businesswoman, and media personality. But she may not be the smartest out there and reportedly, her IQ score is less than 100, making her a below-average.

Her recurring stupid statements in the reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashian is enough evidence of her low IQ. A few memes of Kim’s idiot moments include “Stretch marks are my biggest fear of life”, and “I hate it when women wear the wrong foundation color. It might be the worst thing on the planet when they wear their makeup too light”.

2. George Washington Bush

When it comes to low IQ, even the brainpower of the head of state is in question. One of the most controversial figures, GW Bush may not be as smart as he seems. He is known to have a pitiful IQ score of 91, while his predecessor Bill Clinton had a super-brain with a 170-180 IQ and ranks 4th in the list of US presidents by IQ.

Bush served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and the governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000. Just to give you an idea of his slow processing, he was caught making thick-headed comments like, “It has come to my attention that air pollution is polluting the air”.

3. Kourtney Kardashian

Well, it comes as no surprise that Kourtney Kardashian is not a smart person, much like most people in the clan. Kourtney is a businesswoman, socialite, and media personality from the popular Kardashian family.

Reportedly, she has an IQ score of 95, which falls in the category of average intelligence. Apparently, she was also voted the dumbest celeb in the world, but there are many people who beat her in this competition.

4. Nicki Minhaj

Another famous celebrity with a low IQ is Nicki Minhaj with a not-so-bad score of 120. She is a Trinidadian rapper and singer, often referred to as the Queen of Rap for her animated rap flow and alter egos.

In addition, she is also known for her stupid public moments, most of which make viral memes. Despite the score, her best-selling albums and popular songs draw attention from the public, making her a sensation in the media.

5. Chris Brown

Chris Brown is another addition to this list of low-IQ celebrities, with an average quotient score of 120. He is an American singer-songwriter and rapper, regarded as a prominent personality in R&B music. Chris’s fans often credit him for being an evolver of the R&B genre music.

However, he is often criticized for his ad music choices and unnecessary opinions, which are popular for making him popular in the first place. Contrary to that, his music sells and some of his best-selling songs include Look at Me Now, No Guidance, Loyal, and New Flame, which is all that matters.

6. Miley Cyrus

Her fans expect her IQ level between 100 and 130, but 120 is the most commonly stated figure associated with Miley Cyrus’s intellectual potential. She is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.

Despite a low IQ, she has come up with best-selling albums like Endless Summer, Bangerz, Plastic Hearts, Breakout, and Can’t Be Tamed. She has also earned several awards like Grammy, MTV music awards, and the title of Teen Queen.

7. Andy Warhol

The pop artist Andy Warhol is yet another low-IQ celebrity from America with a reported intelligence quotient score of 86. He was a renowned American visual artist and film director, a leading figure in the pop art movement of the 20th century.

Despite this score, he managed to get through college with a commercial art degree and served as the art director in the student magazine Cano. He also appeared smarter than what his IQ suggests. So, it is safe to assume that the IQ test might’ve been at fault here.

8. Britney Spears

The Princess of Pop, Britney Jean Spears has an average IQ score of 104, which is an average, same as Ronald Reagan. She is an American singer, credited with influencing teens during the 1990s and 200s. Contrary to her score, she has sold over 150 million records across the globe.

But having to say that she has always focused on her singing gigs as a kid and didn’t even attend high school, her success is justified. That said, she has always been described as disciplined and creative. So, it’s safe to assume that the IQ test didn’t determine her true intelligence spectrum.

9. Muhammad Ali

It came as a shock that the greatest Muhammad Ali has a low IQ at 78, which is difficult to imagine, given his high critical thinking, quick responses, great comebacks, and natural wit. Moreover, the ranking reflects borderline mental disability, which is the polar opposite of his intellectual potential.

He scored this mark in the military service for war in Vietnam, which he violently opposed. We can safely assume that here, the IQ test failed to catch the Intelligence spectrum of his personality. Plus, historically, IQ tests have been criticized for being racially biased and discriminatory, which may be the case.

10. Richard Feynman

IQ tests are not always the end game, and Richard Feymann is living proof of it. The American theoretical physicist Richard Feynman took an IQ test when he was 13 and got an average score of 125. Since then, he has been joking about his low intelligence quotient despite important achievements.

Contrary to the score, he has made several significant contributions to electrodynamics and quantum. Not only this, but Feymann also won the Nobel Prize in 1965, which is clear evidence of his intellect spectrum.

In essence, the IQ score represents a person’s reasoning ability. Most celebrities have gone through a set of standardized testing, designed to assess human intelligence. I hope this guide has managed to give you information about high and low-IQ celebrities.