The smartest people in history

October 1, 2023

Measuring historical figures’ IQ levels is highly speculative and challenging since the concept of IQ (intelligence quotient) as we understand it today did not exist for most of history. However, some people with exceptionally high IQs have been recognized through modern assessments and testing. Here are the smartest people in history according to Finances Online.

Baruch Spinoza – IQ level: 175

Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) was a Dutch philosopher of Portuguese-Jewish descent, known for his profound and groundbreaking contributions to philosophy. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy, particularly in the rationalist tradition.

Michelangelo – IQ level: 177

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was an Italian Renaissance artist renowned for his extraordinary contributions to painting, sculpture, and architecture. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists in Western art history.

Desiderius Erasmus – IQ level: 177

Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466-1536) was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, scholar, theologian, and writer. He is often regarded as one of the most important figures of the Northern Renaissance. Erasmus made significant contributions to literature, philosophy, theology, and the promotion of classical learning.

Rene Descartes – IQ level: 177

René Descartes (1596-1650) was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist who made significant contributions to a wide range of fields, including philosophy, mathematics, and the natural sciences. He is often regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the early modern period.

Galileo Galilei – IQ level: 182

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian scientist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a pivotal role in the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of science.

John Stuart Mill – IQ level: 182.5

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a British philosopher, political economist, and social reformer who made significant contributions to a wide range of fields, including ethics, political philosophy, economics, and social theory. He played a pivotal role in the development of utilitarianism and advocated for individual liberty and social justice.

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz – IQ level: 191

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) was a German philosopher, mathematician, logician, and polymath who made significant contributions to various fields, including mathematics, philosophy, and early computer science. He is known for his wide-ranging intellectual pursuits and his development of differential and integral calculus independently of Isaac Newton.

Isaac Newton – IQ level: 192

Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists in history. His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for classical mechanics and modern physics.

Leonardo Da Vinci – IQ level: 200

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath who excelled in a wide range of fields, including painting, sculpture, anatomy, engineering, mathematics, and natural philosophy. He is often considered one of the most diversely talented individuals ever to have lived.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – IQ level: 220

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was a German writer, poet, playwright, and philosopher who is widely considered one of the most important figures in Western literature. He made significant contributions to various literary genres, including poetry, drama, and the novel, and his works have had a profound and lasting impact on German and world literature.