Lady Gaga's IQ is often listed as 166, but no test, date or source has ever been given. Her documented record is musical: classical piano from age four and early admission to NYU Tisch at 17.
Stefani Germanotta, played by ear
Born 28 March 1986 in New York to an internet entrepreneur father and a telecoms-executive mother, both of Italian descent. Tap a key to hear the story at each age.
Began classical piano at four and learned to play by ear, soon picking out songs she heard on the radio.
Education, as a setlist
Private lessons through childhood in classical piano and singing.
Private girls' school, Manhattan. Graduated in 2004.
Weekend method-acting classes as a teenager.
Early admission to the musical-theatre conservatory programme.
Left during her second year to pursue music.
She felt she was more creative than the classes allowed and withdrew to write songs full-time. Her father agreed to pay her rent for a year on the condition she'd go back to school if it didn't work out.
She was admitted to Tisch's Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP21) musical-theatre programme at 17, a year earlier than usual. It's a sign of exceptional talent and drive, not a proxy for an IQ number.
One voice, six genres
Few pop stars switch styles this far. Flip a switch.
Just Dance and Poker Face both reached No. 1 in the US; Bad Romance followed. Synths, big hooks and a new character for every video.
Roles, stages and ventures
Co-founded with her mother to support young people's mental health.
Won a Golden Globe for playing the Countess.
Opened by appearing to leap from the stadium roof.
A Las Vegas residency alternating pop and jazz shows.
Her cosmetics brand, relaunched in 2022.
Played Patrizia Reggiani for Ridley Scott; New York Film Critics Circle award.
Harley Quinn opposite Joaquin Phoenix; released the companion album Harlequin.
Sources
- Recording Academy Grammy Awards records
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards database (2019)
- NYU Tisch School of the Arts, CAP21 programme
- Callahan, M. (2010). Poker Face: The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga. Hyperion
- What's Your IQ editorial review of circulated figures