George W. Bush's IQ: 125
George W. Bush
Estimated IQ
125
Known For
43rd US President, Yale and Harvard MBA, post-9/11 leadership
About George W. Bush
George W. Bush served as the 43rd President of the United States (2001–2009), presiding over the most consequential years of post-Cold War American foreign policy — including the September 11 attacks, the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Global War on Terror. He graduated from Yale University with a history degree and received an MBA from Harvard Business School — the first US president to hold an MBA — before a business career in Texas oil and ownership of the Texas Rangers baseball team. His estimated IQ of 125 reflects above-average intelligence with particular strengths in political intuition and interpersonal warmth, alongside well-documented limitations in articulate verbal expression that made him the subject of extensive political satire.
What an IQ of 125 Means
Bush's estimated IQ of 125 reflects above-average intelligence that was often obscured by his informal speaking style and tendency toward verbal stumbles (malapropisms and misstatements that became widely mocked as 'Bushisms'). His Yale and Harvard credentials are genuine cognitive markers, and those who worked closely with him — including advisers not ideologically aligned with him — consistently describe him as sharper in private than his public image suggested. His post-presidential emergence as a painter has been taken seriously by some art critics as a genuine artistic practice rather than a hobby. His legacy is profoundly debated: the Iraq War, which he authorized based on intelligence assessments of weapons of mass destruction that proved incorrect, is considered by many historians as the most consequential foreign policy failure in the post-Cold War era.
How George W. Bush Compares
To understand where this falls on the IQ scale, see our complete IQ score ranges guide, or learn what IQ actually measures.
Famous IQ Comparison
| Person | Estimated IQ | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| George W. Bush | 125 | 43rd US President, Yale and Harvard MBA, post-9/11 leadership |
| Steve Jobs | 130–145 | Apple co-founder, iPhone, Macintosh |
| Barack Obama | 130–145 | 44th US President, Harvard Law Review |
| Kim Kardashian | 115–125 | Media mogul, entrepreneur, law student |
| Oprah Winfrey | 120–130 | Media mogul, talk show host, philanthropist |
| Richard Feynman | 125 | Nobel Prize physicist, quantum electrodynamics |
| Taylor Swift | 115–125 | Singer-songwriter, music industry mogul |
See the complete famous IQ list or check what an IQ of 125 means.
Careers That Match an IQ of 125
- Doctor — typical IQ range: 120–130
- Lawyer — typical IQ range: 115–130
- Engineer — typical IQ range: 115–128
Explore the full IQ by career chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is George W. Bush's IQ?
George W. Bush's IQ is estimated at approximately 125, placing him in the top 5% of the population. He has not taken a publicly disclosed standardized IQ test. His Yale and Harvard MBA credentials are genuine academic achievements — both institutions maintain selective admissions — though critics have noted family legacy admissions policies. His informal speaking style and tendency toward verbal stumbles led to widespread underestimation of his intelligence; those who worked closely with him generally describe him as sharp in analytical discussions and decisive in decision-making, if not always articulate in public.
How did Bush respond to the September 11 attacks?
Bush's response to the September 11 attacks — the invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003), the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the Patriot Act, and the establishment of enhanced interrogation protocols — defined his presidency and remain among the most debated decisions in recent American history. The Afghanistan intervention, which removed the Taliban government and disrupted al-Qaeda's operational base, had broad international support. The Iraq invasion, which Bush authorized based on CIA assessments that proved incorrect about WMD programs, has been more comprehensively criticized — by historians, by former officials in his own administration, and by many former supporters — as a strategic error that destabilized the Middle East and consumed American resources and credibility for a decade.
What has George W. Bush done since his presidency?
Bush has maintained a notably lower political profile than most ex-presidents, spending significant time at his Crawford, Texas ranch and at his Dallas home. His post-presidential memoir Decision Points describes his presidency from his own perspective. Most unexpectedly, he has emerged as a serious amateur painter — his portraits of world leaders and veterans have been exhibited and reviewed by art critics as competent, emotionally engaged works rather than mere celebrity hobbies. He has also been a vocal advocate for veterans' causes through the Bush Center and has spoken carefully but clearly about democratic norms and the importance of free press — positions that placed him implicitly in contrast with his Republican Party's direction after 2016.
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MyIQScores Editorial Team
Researchers in cognitive psychology, psychometrics & educational science
Last updated
May 10, 2026
All content on MyIQScores is reviewed for scientific accuracy against peer-reviewed research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics. Our editorial team cross-references each article with published literature before publication and updates pages whenever new research warrants a revision.