A Guide to the IQ 140: Importance, Careers, Myths, & More!

People with an IQ of 140 are only steps away from being geniuses, which means that their cognitive abilities are highly developed, and they carry enormous potential for success in both professional and personal spheres.

To gain a better understanding of this intelligence level, we’ve consulted our IQ experts and learned how to recognize it, which careers are suitable for people with this score, and what some of the good and bad sides of an IQ of 140 are.

Below, we will share our findings with you.

Key Takeaways

• An IQ of 140 is high above the average, mere inches away from the genius category, which begins at 145.
• An IQ of 140 is characterized by highly developed cognition, the ability to quickly grasp complex new concepts, and a vast potential for success in any field.
• The best careers for people with an IQ of 140 are challenging and mentally stimulating—in particular, they make good research scientists, attorneys, and dentists.
• Contrary to popular belief, people with high IQs don’t always lack social skills—sometimes they have highly developed interpersonal intelligence and EQ.

What Is the Average IQ?

The average IQ is considered to be 100, as it indicates that you’ve performed better than precisely 50% of your peers on an IQ test.

To understand exactly what that means, you must first know how the intelligence quotient (IQ) is measured.

First, after you’ve completed an IQ test, your performance is compared to that of your peer group to determine where you rank among them. So, if you’ve performed as well as 50% of your peers, you’ll belong to the so-called 50th percentile, otherwise known as an IQ score of 100.

However, although the true average is considered to be 100, the majority of the population (68%) actually scores in the 85–115 range. As a result, this range is taken to represent the normal development of cognitive abilities.

So, if the 85–115 range is the average intelligence, any score above it is high IQ, while scores below it are low IQ.

Test Your IQ: Is It Higher Than Average?

If you are curious about which IQ category you belong to, you can check using IQtest.net—our expertly designed IQ test that accurately measures your cognitive capabilities using the most advanced psychometric methods.

In addition to being accurate, our IQ test is free, so you can retake it as often as you like. That makes it a perfect tool for training your cognition by exposing your brain to frequent stimulation as well as tracking your progress as you develop your intelligence.

What Is IQ 140 & What Does It Mean?

What Is IQ 140 & What Does It Mean?

An IQ of 140 means that you are high above the average—in fact, looking at Stanford-Binet’s categorization, it’s clear that this IQ belongs to the gifted or very advanced category. In other words, you are mere steps away from being a genius.

As such, an IQ of 140 is fairly rare, with approximately one in 262 people scoring this high. These people are characterized by highly developed cognition, the ability to quickly grasp new concepts without prior knowledge, and an amazing potential to succeed in any career they choose to pursue.

Furthermore, an IQ of 140 is the 99.62nd percentile, which gives them access to Mensa and several other high-IQ societies. And while this score isn’t quite in the genius category yet, it’s very close—geniuses are considered to be those with scores above 145.

Considering how high this IQ is, it usually becomes evident from an early age. Children with an IQ of 140 learn to read far younger than their peers and pick up and master skills much faster. They are often quickly recognized as gifted and may even skip a few grades on account of their intelligence.

The Importance of the IQ 140

An IQ of 140 is important because it allows you to pick up skills faster, handle complex concepts with ease, and solve problems effectively. In addition, a high IQ is often correlated with success in both personal and professional life.

Below, we explore how an IQ of 140 can benefit you in more detail:

• Picking up skills faster than an average person. With an IQ of 140, you can master anything you set your mind to. You still need to put in some effort, but not nearly as much as you would if your intelligence wasn’t as high.
• Handling complex concepts with ease. Your highly developed cognitive abilities allow you to quickly grasp complex and abstract concepts, even when others might not be able to. As a result, you learn much faster than an average person.
• Superb problem-solving skills. Your ability to quickly grasp any situation and examine everything from multiple perspectives gives you a significant advantage when it comes to solving problems. This can come in handy in your career as well as help you in your personal life.
• Greater likelihood of achieving success. People with high IQs tend to be more successful in whatever path they choose. That’s because they are usually more likely to pursue higher education and possess the qualities typically valued in the professional world.

Despite all this, it’s important to note that IQ isn’t everything. Although it gives you a better starting position, you won’t get far without hard work and effort. Ultimately, that, combined with luck, is the key to success.

Celebrities With an IQ of 140

Although it’s difficult to determine the IQs of celebrities without having them take an IQ test, intelligence experts can make reasonably accurate guesses based on their accomplishments and education.

Taking that into account, here are three celebrities with an IQ of 140.

#1. Natalie Portman

an image of Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman became a household name when she starred in the Star Wars franchise, but her acting career actually started long before that, when she was only 12 years old. Since then, she’s been in over 40 films and won multiple accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actress in Black Swan.

Aside from being an immensely talented actress, Natalie Portman is highly intelligent, with a Harvard degree in psychology she earned while simultaneously acting in Star Wars. She also speaks five languages, including Hebrew, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese.

#2. Hillary Clinton

an image of Hillary Clinton as a person with IQ 140

Hillary Clinton, an American politician, is famous as the former First Lady, the US senator representing New York, and the United States Secretary of State serving under President Obama.

She was also nominated as the Democratic representative in the 2016 presidential race but lost to Donald Trump.

Before officially stepping into the political world, Hillary Clinton majored in political science and enrolled at Yale for postgraduate studies. That’s where she met her future husband and president of the United States, Bill Clinton. She also earned a Juris Doctor degree, allowing her to practice law, which she did after her studies.

Notably, Hillary Clinton was always very involved in activism and social causes, supporting the civil rights movement in her college years, fighting for children’s rights, as well as organizing women’s shelters.

#3. Shakira

an image of Shakira as a person with IQ 140

Colombian singer Shakira is known for her catchy songs and energetic dancing, but, as it turns out, she’s also incredibly intelligent.

Although she prioritized music over education, there’s no doubt her IQ is high—she speaks six languages fluently, and in 2020, she completed an ancient philosophy course at the University of Pennsylvania simply because she felt like it.

In addition, Shakira has a perfect pitch, participates in charity, and promotes human rights, education, and equality worldwide, particularly in her native Colombia.

Top 3 Best Jobs for People With the 140 IQ

People with an IQ of 140 usually thrive in challenging, exciting careers where their abilities can genuinely shine and they can learn something new. Although they could easily perform most jobs, it’s unlikely that they will be satisfied doing something that doesn’t stimulate their brains.

That said, here are the top three jobs for an IQ of 140.

#1. Research Scientist

an image of a research scientist looking through a microscope

Research scientists are in charge of planning and conducting experiments and lab trials to make new scientific discoveries. Usually, they work in fields such as chemistry, biology, physics, or engineering, meaning that they require a high level of logical-mathematical intelligence.

Research scientists must be prepared to conduct fieldwork, record and analyze data, monitor experiments, and write research papers and reports. In other words, they must be highly motivated individuals with an excellent eye for detail who are always willing to expand their knowledge.

In addition, research scientists must also be good communicators, as they rarely work alone. In fact, many are put in charge of a team or asked to teach and supervise students, so they need to be patient, helpful, and able to mitigate potential conflicts.

#2. Attorney

an image of an attorney book and attorney as a career choice with people having IQ 140

Although there are many types of attorneys, their primary job is to represent their clients in civil or criminal cases and protect their legal rights. That can include giving them professional advice, preparing or reviewing necessary documentation, and, of course, appearing in court on their behalf.

Considering how intricate and complex an attorney's job may be, it’s not surprising that the road to becoming one is long and challenging.

First, you must obtain a bachelor’s degree and then proceed to postgraduate studies for a Juris Doctor. Once you have both of these degrees, you need to pass the bar exam before you can practice law.

To be a successful lawyer, you must be an excellent communicator and a superb problem solver who’s able to examine every situation from numerous angles. After all, no two cases are entirely the same, so each deserves particular attention.

#3. Dentist

an image of a dentist working on a client

Dentists are experts in oral health and, like lawyers, need extensive training to become that. Typically, a dentist must have a bachelor’s degree as well as graduate from dental school before they can officially practice.

Some dentists go a step further and obtain a medical degree as well. However, that’s not a requirement unless you want to become an oral surgeon.

Ultimately, dentists need to possess vast knowledge of mouth anatomy and be capable of identifying issues and performing various procedures to improve oral health. They must also be excellent communicators who can calm down and reassure their patients, many of whom are very nervous to sit in a dental chair.

IQ 140: Misconceptions

Since an IQ of 140 is fairly rare, it tends to be somewhat misunderstood, with people often crafting myths about this intelligence level.

For instance, there is a widely accepted idea that high IQ equals lower social competence, or, in other words, that the smarter you are, the more socially awkward you are. However, that has little to do with intelligence and far more with interpersonal skills, confidence, and personality traits.

Simply put, some people with an IQ of 140 may be socially awkward, while others are confident, self-assured, and excellent communicators.

In addition, many people believe that those with an IQ of 140 face no problems in academic and professional settings—they are simply too smart to struggle in ways everyone else does.

Of course, this has no basis in reality. Even when your cognition is highly developed, you’re likely to come across challenges that aren’t so easy to solve or skills you need to put in extra effort to master. A near-genius IQ gives you an advantage, but it doesn’t make you a natural expert in all fields.

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Final Thoughts

An IQ of 140 is characteristic of people with highly developed cognitive abilities who can easily grasp complex and abstract concepts and quickly master most skills. They are also highly inventive and often establish themselves as leaders in any career path they pursue.

Nevertheless, it’s important not to neglect self-improvement and learning, even at this level of intelligence. After all, IQ only indicates potential, which, without proper nurturing, can’t be fully realized.