Terence Tao's IQ: 220–230
Terence Tao
Estimated IQ
220–230
Known For
Fields Medal mathematician, highest verified IQ
About Terence Tao
Terence Tao has the highest verified IQ among living people, tested at 220-230 as a child. Tao is an Australian-American mathematician who became the youngest person to win a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (age 13), earned his PhD at 21, and won the Fields Medal (mathematics' Nobel Prize) at 31. He is a professor at UCLA and has published over 350 research papers across diverse areas of mathematics.
What an IQ of 220–230 Means
Tao's IQ of 220-230 is sometimes questioned because it was measured in childhood using the ratio method, which can inflate scores for prodigies. However, his subsequent achievements — Fields Medal, 350+ papers, contributions across multiple mathematical fields — are consistent with extraordinary cognitive ability by any measure. Unlike many child prodigies who fade, Tao has sustained his intellectual output into his 50s, confirming his childhood scores reflected genuine exceptional ability.
How Terence Tao 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Terence Tao | 220–230 | Fields Medal mathematician, highest verified IQ |
| Albert Einstein | 160 | Theory of Relativity, Nobel Prize in Physics |
| Stephen Hawking | 160 | Black hole radiation, A Brief History of Time |
| Elon Musk | 150–155 | Tesla, SpaceX, CEO and entrepreneur |
| Leonardo da Vinci | 180–200 | Mona Lisa, inventor, polymath |
| Nikola Tesla | 160–200 | AC electricity, Tesla coil, inventor |
| Bill Gates | 150–160 | Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist |
See the complete famous IQ list or check what an IQ of 220 means.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Terence Tao's IQ?
Tao tested at 220-230 as a child, the highest verified score among living people. His Fields Medal, 350+ research papers, and contributions across multiple mathematical fields confirm this extraordinary cognitive ability.
Is Terence Tao the smartest person alive?
By measured IQ, he has the highest verified score (220-230) among living people. His mathematical achievements are consistent with this extraordinary score. Whether IQ captures all forms of 'smartness' is debatable.
How did Tao score so high on IQ tests?
Tao's childhood scores used the ratio method (mental age / chronological age × 100), which can produce very high numbers for prodigies. Some researchers suggest his 'true' deviation IQ would be around 160-180 — still extraordinarily high but different from the 220+ figure.
Explore More Famous IQs
Take our free IQ test to discover your own score, or explore what an IQ of 220 means.
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.