Ted Bundy
Where 136 Falls on the IQ Scale
What Is Ted Bundy's IQ?
Ted Bundy's IQ is estimated at approximately 136, placing them in the Gifted range. Theodore Robert Bundy was an American serial killer who kidnapped, raped and murdered dozens of young women and girls between 1974 and 1978. His modus operandi typically consisted of convincing his target that he was in need of assistance or duping them into believing he was an authority figure.
For context, an IQ of 136 would put Ted Bundy in approximately the 99.18th 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
- Historical records document exceptional intellectual capabilities
- Mastered multiple domains during their lifetime
- Demonstrated strategic and analytical thinking in their domain
- Left a lasting intellectual legacy that shapes thinking today
- Contemporary accounts noted their exceptional memory and reasoning ability
How Does Ted Bundy Compare?
With an estimated IQ of 136, Ted Bundy falls into the Gifted classification. Scores in this range are found in roughly the top 2–5% of the population and are associated with exceptional academic and professional achievement.
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.
Ted Bundy'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.