Marilyn vos Savant
Where 228 Falls on the IQ Scale
What Is Marilyn vos Savant's IQ?
Marilyn vos Savant's IQ is estimated at approximately 228, placing them in the Extraordinary Genius range. Marilyn vos Savant is an American magazine columnist who has the highest recorded intelligence quotient (IQ) in the Guinness Book of Records, a competitive category the publication has since retired. Since 1986, she has written "Ask Marilyn", a Parade magazine Sunday column wherein she solves puzzles and answers questions on various subjects, and which popularized the Monty Hall problem in 1990.
For context, an IQ of 228 would put Marilyn vos Savant in approximately the 99.9999th percentile of the global population. The average IQ is 100, and a score above 130 is generally considered "gifted," while 145+ is typically classified as genius-level.
Evidence Behind the Estimate
Unlike some figures with formally disclosed IQ scores, most celebrity IQ estimates are compiled from academic records, biographical accounts, performance data, and expert analysis. Estimated (Extrapolated)
- Listed in Guinness World Records for the highest recorded IQ (228 on Stanford-Binet at age 10)
- Attended Washington University in St. Louis
- Writes the "Ask Marilyn" column in Parade magazine, answering reader puzzles and logic problems
- Famously solved the Monty Hall problem controversy in 1990, prompting thousands of letters
- Known for applying logical rigor to everyday problems and challenges from academics
How Does Marilyn vos Savant Compare?
With an estimated IQ of 228, Marilyn vos Savant falls into the Extraordinary Genius classification. This is a rare cognitive level — only a tiny fraction of the population ever scores this high on standardized assessments.
What Does This IQ Score Mean?
Psychologists generally agree that IQ captures a meaningful slice of cognitive ability — particularly in areas like abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and verbal comprehension — but it's far from a complete picture. Many researchers emphasize that above a threshold of around 120–130, raw intelligence increasingly gives way to creativity, grit, emotional intelligence, and circumstance as determinants of real-world success.
Marilyn vos Savant's accomplishments in historical figures suggest a cognitive profile that pairs well with their estimated IQ — demonstrating not just raw intellectual firepower, but the drive and focus to convert it into meaningful output.