The Elite Clubs: Inside Mensa, Prometheus, and the Triple Nine Society
Beyond the 98th Percentile
For most people, an IQ test is something you take once in school. For others, it is an entry ticket to a secret society. High IQ societies exist to provide a social environment for those who often feel isolated by their own intellect. But they are not all created equal.
1. Mensa (The Top 2%)
- The Entry: IQ of ~130+ (1 in 50 people).
- The Vibe: Mensa is the “populist” high IQ club. With over 145,000 members globally, it is large enough to have local chapters, board game nights, and pub crawls. It is less about solving the world’s problems and more about finding people who get your jokes.
- Famous Members: Geena Davis, Nolan Gould, Shakira (reportedly).
2. Intertel (The Top 1%)
- The Entry: IQ of ~135+ (1 in 100 people).
- The Vibe: Smaller and more exclusive than Mensa. It focuses more on intellectual correspondence and less on social gatherings.
3. Triple Nine Society (The Top 0.1%)
- The Entry: IQ of ~146+ (1 in 1,000 people).
- The Vibe: This is where the air gets thin. Members are at the 99.9th percentile. Discussions here are highly technical and democratic. They have no “leaders,” only facilitators.
- The Demographic: Heavily skewed towards PhDs, researchers, and autodidacts.
4. The Prometheus Society (The Top 0.003%)
- The Entry: IQ of ~160+ (1 in 30,000 people).
- The Vibe: Extremely rare. To get in, you often have to take specialized, un-timed high-range tests (like the Mega Test).
- The Criticism: Psychometricians argue that reliability breaks down at this level. Distinguishing between 1 in 30,000 and 1 in 100,000 is statistically difficult.
5. The Mega Society (The Top 0.0001%)
- The Entry: IQ of ~170+ (1 in 1,000,000).
- The Vibe: The ultimate elite. There are fewer than 30-40 active members in the world. It is mostly a journal of complex puzzles and philosophical treatises. It was founded by Ronald K. Hoeflin, who created the tests to qualify for it.
Do They Matter?
Critics call them “mutual admiration societies” for people with ego problems. Defenders argue they are vital Support Groups.
- The Isolation: People with IQs over 160 often struggle to communicate with average people (IQ 100). The gap (60 points) is the same as the gap between an average person and a chimp. This can lead to profound loneliness. These societies offer a place where they don’t have to “mask” or slow down.
Conclusion
Whether you view them as elitist or essential, High IQ societies prove one thing: humans are tribal. Even the smartest among us crave a tribe where we belong.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does it cost to join Mensa?
Fees vary by country, but typically around $70-90 per year. You also have to pay a testing fee to qualify.
Can I join if I did well on the SAT?
Yes, but only if you took it before certain dates (e.g., pre-1994 for SAT, pre-1994 for GRE). Modern standardized tests have removed the “g-loading” that correlates highly with IQ, so Mensa no longer accepts newer scores.
Are these societies diverse?
Historically, no. They have skewed white and male. However, this is changing. Mensa is actively trying to diversify, noting that high IQ appears in every race and demographic equally.
What do they do at meetings?
Mostly talk. They argue about politics, solve puzzles, eat dinner, and complain about the illogical nature of the world. It’s less Illuminati and more Chess Club.