Howard Wolowitz
IQ Score: 140
Howard is a genius, there is no doubt about that. He is a brilliant engineer, went to space, and went to one of the best schools in the country. He can build robots for fun and even has an advanced degree. He knows what he is doing and has confidence in his ability to excel in his field. Because Sheldon mocked him for not having his doctorate, Howard needed to prove him wrong on The Big Bang Theory. But, it came to show that Howard didn’t need a doctorate to prove that he was smart.
Howard made several concerning mistakes throughout the series that hint towards a lack of common sense. He does establish that most engineers do not get doctorates, which makes a difference, but he also doesn’t seem to speak about the kind of childhood ‘gifted’ programs that many of the others do. Sheldon also routinely considers him the most unintelligent of the group, which is far from the truth.
Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz
IQ Score: 160
Bernadette develops drugs and medications for a big-time pharmaceutical company. She, like most of the characters, has a Ph.D. and is a genius who can hold her own in the sciences and become one of the brightest minds in her industry. Though the sheer number of geniuses within The Big Bang Theory cast may dull the shine of her accomplishments, it is important to note that in any other series, Bernadette would be the obvious “brain.” Her emotional intelligence leaves something to be desired though. Bernadette is behind several big lifestyle changes for the characters, but her delivery and demeanor need a bit of work as she can be rather harsh at times.
Barry Kripke
IQ Score: 170
Barry Kripke may as well be one of the more underrated characters on The Big Bang Theory. It’s somewhat difficult to understand how intelligent Barry is considering he is surrounded by exceptional talents. He is highly regarded within the university and is a personal rival of Sheldon, which suggests he is of superior intellect. Regarding his discoveries, he hasn’t quite managed to have the same breakthroughs that the likes of Leonard, Raj, Amy, or Sheldon have mustered. Regardless, he is a bright scientist with a big future.
Leonard Hofstadter
IQ Score: 173
Leonard is one of the few characters in the main cast of The Big Bang Theory whose IQ is directly mentioned in the show. Leonard’s IQ is measured at 173. This places him firmly at the high end of “genius,” although he refuses to think of himself as that smart because his parents consider his siblings more accomplished than him. It also doesn’t help that Sheldon likes to point out that he is more intelligent than his friend.
Leonard is a respected scientist in his field, has received several accolades for his work, has written many papers (some of which he even presented), and is one of the most brilliant minds in the country. He has a doctorate, published papers, and gives presentations on his work at conferences. Leonard proves time and time again that he is almost intellectually unrivaled.
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Raj Koothrappali
IQ Score: 175
While Raj’s IQ is never mentioned directly, Sheldon makes it clear several times that he believes that Raj is more intelligent than Leonard. Raj is a brilliant astrophysicist who has been celebrated for his contributions to the field. He made People Magazine’s 30-Under-30 People to Watch list, he has discoveries credited to his name, and he has even worked with Sheldon. Raj has plenty of quirks on The Big Bang Theory, and he does struggle socially and is known for putting his foot in his mouth, but he is truly intelligent in a traditional way. He is one of the smartest in the series — even if that is overshadowed by his socially awkward personality.
Amy Farrah Fowler
IQ Score: 180
Though Amy’s IQ is never explicitly stated in the show, it is possible to assume that she is one of the group’s more brilliant members. Her studies and experiments in neuroscience are impressive. She understands how to communicate with Sheldon in a way that makes him feel understood and comfortable, and at the end of the series, she receives one of the highest accolades a person in her field can hope to achieve.
One wonderful thing about Amy is that, unlike the rest of the group, she has been able to master several types of intelligence; including both traditional and emotional. She knows how to communicate openly and honestly with those around her in a way that makes them feel seen and heard, and she also happens to be a Nobel Prize winner. When people ask “What’s Sheldon Cooper’s IQ?” they should really be asking about Amy’s.
Sheldon Cooper
IQ Score: 187
Jim Parsons’ Sheldon is one of the few characters whose IQ is directly stated on the show. He is truly a genius, and Sheldon Cooper’s IQ of 187 literally proves it. He attended college at the age of 11 (as seen in Young Sheldon), is brilliant enough to avoid being fired for his inappropriate actions, and, of course, is a Nobel Prize winner. The most complex/brain-busting scientific theories are nothing to him and, as a consequence, he has a rather unfortunate habit of seeing himself as above other people.
In terms of emotional intelligence, Sheldon is sadly lacking – even after 12 seasons of character development. Many of the reasons for this are shown in Young Sheldon, as his childhood was full of sad and disappointing moments. However, even as a child, Sheldon proved he was the smartest person in the room, even when matched up with kids deemed his equals. For sheer brainpower, Sheldon may well be one of the smartest men in the entire world, much less in The Big Bang Theory.
