The 16 Smartest People On Earth

Updated

2012-10-23T16:28:00Z

Tim Roberts, a professor in Australia, makes the list with an IQ of 178.
Photo courtesy of Tim Roberts

IQ is a problematic measure of intelligence. Many have never been tested, while others have taken the test many times to improve their scores.

Still, psychologists consider it the best measurement of intelligence out there.

So who has the highest score?

The World Genius Directory, created by Dr. Jason Betts, is a fluid list of the world's top mind compiled from certified IQ tests sent in by listees. Betts says his site is the definitive ranking.

"Other [IQ] websites had existed, and some still do, but they are based and limited by local constraints, for example, written in Spanish, for Europeans only, only accept their friends' tests, and so on," Betts told us in an email.The directory "has no preferences nor bias, except test quality."

The average score on an IQ test is 100. Most people fall within the 85 to 114 range. Any score over 140 is considered a high IQ. A score over 160 is considered a genius IQ.

If you're wondering, Betts includes himself on the directory. His IQ is 168.

Marc Nydegger has an IQ 171

HELLIQ Society

Nationality: Swiss

The 20-year-old prodigy from Fribourg, Switzerland is a scientist and video game designer, according to his profile at Hall of the Ancients.

The profile says his favorite food is "knowledge" and his favorite drink is "intelligence."

Peter Rodgers has an IQ of 175

Photo courtesy of Peter Rodgers

Nationality: Australian

The 58-year-old author, physicist and poet has written more than 3,000 poems and published books on emotion, schizophrenia and Albert Einstein.

Rodgers, who earned his bachelor's in Mathematics at the University of Queensland, suffers from dyslexia and epilepsy, but still managed to do well in school.

The poetic genius also hosts his own YouTube channel where he posts creative videos of his poems, music and information on his books.

Tadayuki Konno has an IQ of 176

Nationality: Japanese

Konno, 39, currently lives in Sakata-shi, Yamagata, Japan. The self-described visionary lists his hobbies on his Facebook page as "making kaibun (Japanese Palindrome), listening to music, watching movies, reading manga comics and novels."

He is a member of the Mysterium Society and the HELLIQ Society.

Lee HanKyung has an IQ of 177

Facebook

Nationality: South Korean

Lee Hankyung, from Daejon, South Korea, is currently a medical student. The 27-year-old is a member of at least five high IQ societies, including Mensa Korea and OLYMPIQ High IQ Society.

Kenneth Ferrell has an IQ of 190.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Ferrell

Nationality: American

Ferrell is aphysician in Charlotte, N.C. He is a member of various elite IQ societies, including the Epimetheus Society, the Order of Imhotep and GenerIQ.

The 52-year-old told us that "IQ tests" have become a fun hobby for him over the last five years and he evencreated verbal and numerical IQ tests of his own: QUINTIQ and 12345.

As for his spot on the World Genius Directory: "I view the list I'm on as a celebration of scores among people who like to take these tests. I scored 190 on a test. I don't believe that means my IQ is 190," Ferrell says.

Rick Rosner has an IQ of 192

Nationality: American

The world's second smartest man is one of the more colorful characters on the list. He has written for various TV shows, was a contestant on "Who Want To Be A Millionaire," and spent many years as a bar bouncer, stripper and nude model.

The 54-year-old, who currently lives in Los Angeles, recently told The Daily that he sometimes stays up 20 hours a day to finish IQ tests in a bid to knock his Greek competitor out of the top spot.

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