10 Celebrities Whose IQs Are Astonishing — Some Might Even Beat Einstein

Although intelligence can manifest in many ways, there are times when measuring it can be useful. Standardized tests are designed to assess a person’s intellectual potential, focusing on cognitive abilities such as reasoning, logic, and problem-solving rather than mere knowledge. We set out to discover which famous individuals are believed to have exceptionally high IQs — and which ones might even surpass Albert Einstein.

1. Kate Beckinsale: an IQ of 152

The actress, who starred in blockbusters such as Pearl Harbor and Click, studied modern languages at Oxford before pursuing acting. She revealed that when she was younger, she took a test to know her IQ and got 152. However, as she mentioned, this did not help her in the world of showbiz.

2. Matt Damon: an IQ of 160

Damon was studying English literature at Harvard; however, when he was a few credits short of graduating, he started acting and dropped out.

3. Quentin Tarantino: an IQ of 160

The famous film director, known for films such as Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, is estimated to have an IQ of 160. Tarantino dropped out of high school because according to him, the only class he liked was History since “it was like the movies.”

4. Mayim Bialik: an IQ of 150-163

The actress, who became known for her portrayal of neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, is as intelligent in real life as her character. She has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, speaks fluent English and Hebrew, and plays the piano, guitar, and trumpet.

5. Sylvester Stallone: an IQ of 160

According to different sources, the action star was blessed with an IQ of 160, which means he belongs to 0.1% of the population with a superior ability for logical reasoning, quick thinking, and fast reactions. This IQ is the same as the one attributed to the scientist Albert Einstein.

6. Ashton Kutcher: an IQ of 160

It’s kind of ironic that most characters Ashton has played in sitcoms generally do not shine for their intelligence. However, in real life, the That ’70s Show star has cognitive abilities estimated to reach 160 points. Outside his acting career, Kutcher has done humanitarian work and has also invested in tech startups before they became successful, such as Uber and Spotify.

7. Lady Gaga

We all know Lady Gaga is a creative genius, but she’s also a real-life intellectual powerhouse, with an estimated IQ of 166 — placing her in the “exceptionally gifted” range (and we’re not surprised!). Back in middle school, she even participated in a prestigious summer program for gifted students, open only to the top 1% academically.

8. Gerard Piqué: an IQ of 170

The football player studied business economics at Esade Business School, a university in Barcelona, Spain. According to his father, Piqué, who is one of only four footballers to have won the UEFA Champions League twice, has an IQ of 170. For reference, we can mention that the British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking was also said to have an IQ of 160.

9. Rowan Atkinson: an IQ of 178

The comedian, famous for playing Mr. Bean, studied electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Newcastle and later obtained a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Queen’s College, Oxford. Atkinson has an IQ of 178, which almost matches that of Leonardo da Vinci, who is said to have had an IQ of 180.

10. James Woods: an IQ of 180

James Woods, believed to have an IQ of around 180, is often considered one of the smartest actors in the Western world. He reportedly scored 1579 out of 1600 on his SATs and enrolled at MIT before leaving to pursue acting.

Renowned for his quick delivery and intense performances, Woods has starred in films like The Hard Way, Chaplin, and Casino, earning recognition and awards for several of his roles.

Be sure to check out our other article, where we compared the IQs of renowned scientists with those of celebrities — and the results were astonishing.