World-Famous Figures Who Shaped History, Ranked By IQ

Who comes to mind when you think of the world greatest geniuses? Is it Stephen Hawking – or maybe Albert Einstein? Well, it turns out that plenty of others can be described this way, and some may take you by surprise. We all know that intelligence comes in different shapes and sizes, but IQ tests are a pretty useful way to put a number on it. A score of 140 or more tends to indicate that a person is a genius – meaning that countless big names from history fall into this category. And we’re not just talking about distinguished scientists and thinkers, either. Some A-list celebs like Madonna even crop up on this comprehensive list of brainy historical figures!

40. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger had incredible successes in the worlds of bodybuilding and Hollywood acting, but the star also forged a significant political career for himself. Over an eight-year period from 2003 he was California’s governor – perhaps the clearest indicator of the star’s sheer determination when he sets his mind to something. It probably helps that he has a far-above-average IQ, which, according to CBS News, comes in at 132.

39. Napoleon Bonaparte

One doesn’t manage to take control of huge swathes of the European continent without having something of a brilliant mind. French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was a military genius, with his ability to strategize leading to incredible successes for his conquering forces. Though IQ tests were only invented long after Napoleon’s death, the website Geni has estimated that he’d have a score of around 180.

38. Madonna

There’s no doubt that Madonna helped to revolutionize the music industry forever. Across her decades-spanning career, she’s reinvented herself countless times and set the bar for what pop stars can achieve. Unsurprisingly, Madonna is reported to have quite a sharp mind and has in the past claimed to have an IQ of 140.

37. Geena Davis

Geena Davis has done a lot in her life. The Hollywood star has famously picked up an Oscar, but she’s also a skilled archer and a notable activist concerned with making the media industry more equal. She’s even in Mensa – an organization for people with abnormally high IQs. According to Hollywood.com, Davis’ is 140.