Celebrities aren't necessarily known for their high IQ scores. For the most part, we look at celebs as beautiful stupid people we get to watch make mistakes. They deal with wardrobe malfunctions while sipping their expensive lattes, wondering what famous hunk to date next. Wouldn't life be grand if it was so easily summed up? What we tend to forget is that famous people are just that: people. Granted, they have personal assistants and chefs to help things along, but they still deal with the day to day activities that we all do.
Perhaps we should give Hollywood a little more credit. Just because they are in the industry doesn't make them performing monkeys. In fact, most of these stars are incredibly giving, gifted individuals who realize their star status is a privilege, not a right. For these 14 stars however, if the film business fades away, they can always fall back on their ridiculously high intellect and get a job as a rocket scientist or neurosurgeon. The average IQ (or intelligence quotient) is 100, with the majority of the population falling between 85 and 115. A score between 116-129 is considered as having above average intelligence, with 130-144 being "gifted". A score of 145-159 is "highly gifted" and quite rare. 160-179 is exceptional, and anything over 180 is just ridiculous. In preparation for this article (and sheer curiosity) I took an IQ test and scored 114, which I thought was quite good. Then I found out these celeb scores and felt quite stupid. Take a look and see if you are as smart as your favorite celebrity.
14 James Franco - 130
When we think of James Franco, the word "gifted" doesn't necessarily come to mind so much as the words "eye candy" and "hilarious". I can't decide if it's amazing or depressing that Pineapple Express might be the overall best performance of his career. Well, the jokes on us either way because he has an IQ of 130, putting him well above the norm. This may seem hard to believe because he puts out this hippie, laid back vibe but now we know what's hidden beneath all those layers: brains for days. Looks and brains, the world is so unfair sometimes.
13 Natalie Portman - 140
Speaking of the world being unfair, look at Natalie Portman. She's an Academy Award winning, Harvard graduate mother who has an impressive IQ of 140. Who says you can't have it all? To top it off, she seems like a genuinely nice, down to Earth person. She swoops in, makes a killer movie, then disappears in an attempt to lead a normal life. She's never involved in any drama, being in the spotlight only when she chooses to be. In a world full of rehab stories and latest breakups, Portman is a breath of fresh air. I can't say I'm surprised she's practically a genius.
12 Steve Martin - 142
Funny man Steve Martin has shown time and time again that it's okay to look like a fool. In all of his movies, he always looks like he is having the time of his life, and is a very natural actor who is incredibly comfortable being just who he is. This megastar has been churning out hits for decades and the world can't seem to get enough. Martin never seems to take himself too seriously, adding to his charm. Now we find out he has a killer IQ as well? If anyone deserves it all, it's him.
11 Nolan Gould - 150
While some people may not recognize his name, most will recognize his face. Gould is best known for his starring role on the hit comedy, Modern Family in which he plays a painfully aloof boy who doesn't seem to pick up on social cues. However, all that is strictly an onscreen persona as this man is a borderline genius! Gould is quite young and seems to have a successful acting career ahead of him. He can rest easy in the knowledge that if acting doesn't work out, he can always do literally anything else. With an IQ of 150, who wouldn't want to employ him?
10 Alicia Keys - 154
Does this shock anyone? Didn't think so. Of course Keys has an IQ of 154, she's wonder woman. She's not only managed to launch a singing career, but she's able to come and go as she pleases. Her last album was released in 2012, with talks of her next coming out later this year. How many artists can take four years off and walk right back into the spotlight as if no time had passed at all? A singer with an IQ of 154 who knows how to use it. This genius superstar knows how to balance a healthy lifestyle, taking time off to raise her children (but yes, we are dying for her next album to drop).
9 Matt Damon - 160
So is it safe to say Good Will Hunting was more of an autobiographical piece? Damon falls into that "exceptional" category and it shows. He's a phenomenal actor and a gifted writer who has been nominated for four Academy Awards. Damon stands out from the crowd with his incredibly diverse choices; few other leading men are able to jump from comedy to thrillers to fun action films seamlessly. Maybe it's his genius status that helps him delve into each character and bring them to life. Let's just hope he keeps using his intelligence to keep the masses entertained.
8 Conan O'Brien - 160
That's right ladies and gentlemen, this man has an IQ of 160. While it may not be evident by just glancing at him, it is easy to see when listening to him talk. O'Brien has a way with words, being not only well spoken but he has a keen sense of delivery. He's able to read an audience and adjust his material to suit the crowd. Not only that, but at the end of the day, O'Brien seems like a man's man. He can tell a crude joke, then talk politics all while making a person feel relaxed. He can probably disassemble a bomb too, just by looking at it.
7 Ashton Kutcher - 160
What's so great about being a genius if you can't act stupid some of the time? Kutcher's career was made by playing a naive womanizer on That 70's Show and having the time of his life on Punk'd in which he played practical jokes on his famous friends. After seeing these shows, no one would ever guess he's ridiculously smart. Perhaps he keeps that information quiet in order to stay in line with the on screen persona he's created. Got to give the fans what they want, right? We know he's got a high IQ because he's hooked up with people like Demi Moore and Mila Kunis. I doubt either one of those women would fall for an idiot.
6 Bill Gates - 160
This obviously comes as no surprise because Bill Gates is famous for his genius intellect and his amazing business choices. He put that 160 IQ to good use and is one of the richest men in the world. Typically, the wealthier the individual, the greedier they are; that's how they became wealthy in the first place. Bill Gates is definitely smart with his money, but by no means greedy. Sure, he splurges on some things (the assessed value of his property was a whopping 125 million dollars) but he also understands the importance of giving back to the community. Gates has pledged to giving away at least half of his wealth to different charitable organizations over the course of his lifetime, which is something not many wealthy people can say.
5 Quentin Tarantino - 160
This information makes perfect sense, you'd have to be a genius to produce even half of the things that come out of the great force that is Quentin Tarantino. His first crack at writing and producing was Reservoir Dogs. What a way to start a career, he was catapulted to fame overnight. As if that film wasn't legendary enough in itself, he went on to do Pulp Fiction. Few people are able to produce such fascinating films, let alone one right after the other. We'll just keep our fingers crossed that Tarantino continues to use his powers for good.
4 Stephen Hawking - 160
I'm a little surprised that his IQ was even able to be measured, I was confident his score would be off the charts. For the incredible things this man has accomplished this score seems quite low. Or maybe that's just because I don't understand a single word he's ever said, it's all way over my head. How does one even begin to think about such things as general relativity and black holes? There are few people who come into the world and are able to impact it so drastically, and Hawking is one of them. While most of the people on this list are entertainers, he leads a "quiet" life of ground breaking discoveries.
3 Lisa Kudrow - 160
That's right, Phoebe and Michele are characters that were brought to life by a literal genius. Kudrow is one of few female comedians with such an astonishing intellect, and we love how that intellect manifested itself; by creating some of the most memorable characters in history. There is not a person in the world who doesn't know who Phoebe from Friends is. Maybe she hasn't written any life changing papers on physics, but she's brought joy to so many people in her crazy yet down to Earth performances.
2 Rowan Atkinson - 178
Does this not rock your world? Mr. Bean is a freaking genius. His intellect is almost off the charts, unmeasurable! He must be smart, he was able to make film after film, while barely speaking! He has a knack for physical comedy which can be very difficult to deliver, launched his career and he was able to keep up that momentum. In a world dominated by looks and the dashing leading man, Atkinson comes flying in with his parodies and jokes and kills it! He puts off this shy, endearing quality that makes us love his even more.
1 James Woods - 184
There's nothing better than a man who knows he's smarter than you and chooses to poke fun at himself. Case in point: he literally makes himself look like an idiot while voicing his actual persona on Family Guy. How many celebs would dare do that? That alone makes me want to be besties with him. Woods is best known for the villainous characters he portrays, which he has been gracing us with for over three decades. It's hard to believe an IQ of 184, not because it's James Woods, but because it just doesn't seem possible. My small brain cannot fathom a score that high. Thank goodness he's a nice guy, he could probably destroy the world if he wanted to. Let's keep on his good side.
