Is an IQ of 142 Good? What It Means & Where You Stand

What Does an IQ of 142 Mean?

An IQ of 142 is solidly in the genius range at the 99.7th percentile. Only about 1 in 340 people score this high. At this level, complex analytical problems that challenge most people may feel approachable or even intuitive. You process information substantially faster than nearly everyone around you, see connections that others miss, and can hold large amounts of information in working memory simultaneously. The cognitive gap between 142 and the average of 100 is enormous in practical terms.

An IQ of 142 places you at the 99.7th percentile, which means you scored higher than approximately 99.7% of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. This score falls into the Genius-level range on the IQ scale. With a rarity of 1 in 340, this score is uncommon and indicates strong cognitive abilities.

To understand how IQ scores are calculated and what they measure, see our complete guide on what IQ is and how it works. For a full breakdown of all score ranges and their meanings, visit our IQ score ranges page.

Career Context for an IQ of 142

People at 142 are equipped for the most demanding intellectual work available — theoretical research, advanced mathematics, high-stakes legal or medical specialties, technology innovation, and creative work at the highest levels. The challenge is rarely ability; it is finding work stimulating enough to sustain engagement and finding peers who match the pace of your thinking.

Cognitive Profile at IQ 142

IQ 142 places an individual in the top third of a percent of the population. Analogical reasoning is a particular strength — the mind fluidly maps structural similarities between concepts from disparate fields. Long-term memory is highly organized, with rich associative networks that allow rapid retrieval of relevant information. These individuals often notice unstated assumptions in arguments and intuitively identify the point of maximum leverage in complex systems. Creative problem-solving is characterized by original reframings rather than incremental improvements.

What Research Says About IQ 142

Studies using item response theory show that at scores of 142 and above, standard psychometric instruments approach their measurement ceiling. Gifted education researchers such as Miraca Gross document that children testing at this level require curriculum compacted by factors of three to five to remain engaged. Adults in this range frequently report difficulty finding intellectual peers even in elite professional environments.

Day-to-Day Life with an IQ of 142

An economist at IQ 142 might build a novel macro model by borrowing control-theory mathematics from engineering, producing insights overlooked by colleagues trained to apply standard econometric methods. A surgeon at this level maps three-dimensional anatomy intuitively during complex procedures, anticipating complications before they arise. A novelist constructs multi-layered narratives where thematic, structural, and linguistic patterns align across hundreds of pages without conscious tracking.

How Does an IQ of 142 Compare?

Here's how a score of 142 compares to nearby IQ scores:

Famous People with an IQ Around 142

The following well-known figures have estimated IQ scores close to 142:

• George Orwell — Author of 1984 and Animal Farm, political essayist (estimated IQ: 140)
• Ernest Hemingway — Nobel Prize author, minimalist literary style, The Old Man and the Sea (estimated IQ: 145)
• Yuval Noah Harari — Historian, author of Sapiens, Homo Deus, and 21 Lessons (estimated IQ: 140)
• Larry Ellison — Oracle founder, college dropout billionaire, database pioneer (estimated IQ: 145)
• Charlie Munger — Warren Buffett's partner, Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman, mental models (estimated IQ: 145)

Careers That Suit an IQ of 142

People with an IQ around 142 are well-suited for the following career paths:

• Neurosurgeon — average IQ range: 128–140
• Patent Attorney — average IQ range: 125–138
• Astronaut — average IQ range: 130–145
• Mathematician — average IQ range: 130–145
• Anesthesiologist — average IQ range: 125–140

See the full IQ by career chart for all professions.

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