As of the third quarter of 2023, 1.54% of U.S. consumers had a FICO Score of 850, according to Experian data. Some notable traits of consumers with a perfect credit score include an above average number of credit cards, lower credit utilization rate and lower than average total debt.
In many sports, its possible to play a game that can be counted as “perfect.” Knock down 120 pins with 12 bowls in 10-pin bowling and youve bowled a perfect game. Retire all 27 batters and youve (usually) pitched a perfect game. And when it comes to credit, 850 is the highest the FICO® ScoresÎ scale goes.
For more and more U.S. consumers, practice is making perfect. According to recent Experian data, 1.54% of consumers have a “perfect” FICO® Score of 850. Thats up from 1.31% two years earlier.
Having an exceptional credit score is the dream of many consumers, But who actually holds the title for the highest credit score in the world? The answer may surprise you
What Constitutes a High Credit Score?
First, let’s define what makes a credit score high. The most commonly used credit scoring models in the US are FICO and VantageScore. Both models rate credit scores on a scale of 300 to 850.
According to FICO credit scores above 800 are considered exceptional. Specifically
- 800-850 is exceptional
- 740-799 is very good
- 670-739 is good
Meanwhile, VantageScore categorizes scores as follows:
- 781-850 is excellent
- 661-780 is good
- 601-660 is fair
So generally, a credit score above 780 or 800 is considered high by most standards. But who has the tippy-top scores at the peak of Mount Credit?
The FICO 850 Club
A perfect 850 FICO score is extremely rare – only 14% of consumers can claim membership in the 850 club, Reaching this pinnacle takes years of diligent credit management,
FICO interviewed two members of this elite group – John Ulzheimer of Atlanta and Brad Stevens of Austin. Both proudly provided proof that they’ve attained the maximum 850 score.
So what’s the secret sauce? Here are a few of their tips:
- Never miss a payment – pay all bills on time, every time
- Maintain low credit utilization – ideally below 30%
- Have diverse credit types – credit cards, loans, mortgages
- Monitor credit reports and quickly dispute any errors
- Use credit cards responsibly and pay balances in full each month
While a flawless 850 is rare, it can be done with long-term dedication to building credit.
The Man With a Near Perfect Score
While few can claim a perfect 850, some have come remarkably close. Cleveland resident Tom Pavelka scored an 848 on the FICO scale in 2012 – just 2 points shy of perfection.
Pavelka displayed exceptional financial habits:
- Always paid credit balances in full to avoid interest
- Never spent money without knowing when he could repay debts
- Maintained a mortgage, credit cards, auto loan, and equity line
- Kept credit card balances low – around $2,500 total
- Had 5 open credit cards with total limits over $120,000
His fiscally responsible approach demonstrates that while an 850 is elusive, a score in the high 700s or 800s is achievable.
World Record Holders
So who actually holds the record for the highest credit score ever? Pinpointing the definitive world record holder is tricky. Credit scores fluctuate frequently. The highest scorers also value privacy.
But based on press reports, a few contenders emerge:
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Lee Robertson – In 2018, this Virginian made headlines with a perfect 850 FICO score. He checked his report after applying for a car loan.
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Tom Pavelka – As mentioned earlier, this Ohio resident scored an 848 in 2012. That beat over 100% of consumers at the time.
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John Ulzheimer – The credit expert reportedly still maintains a perfect 850 score. He is stringent about payments and credit management.
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The “Credit MD” – In 2021, a mortgage expert from California claimed an 850 score. He went to extreme lengths to achieve perfection.
While the title holder is unclear, these individuals demonstrate that reaching the apex of credit scoring is possible with long-term dedication, vigilance, and responsible habits.
Takeaways
A few key lessons emerge:
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An 850 credit score is attainable, but extremely rare.
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Paying bills on time while keeping credit utilization low are key.
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Monitoring credit reports frequently for errors is crucial.
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Good credit takes years to build – patience and perseverance pay off.
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Near-perfect scores in the 800s still provide excellent loan terms.
So while the world record holder remains partially obscured, you can embark on your own quest for credit excellence. With responsible behaviors and financial prudence, you can ascend towards the peak, even if the summit proves elusive.
Distribution of FICO® Scores Among U.S. Consumers
Consumers with perfect scores tend to have lower debt balances than the national average for all types of revolving credit, as well as overall non-mortgage debt levels. As for auto loans, lower balances for those with an 850 FICO® Score may indicate that these consumers, when they do finance their vehicles, are able to do so with better financing terms than those with average credit scores.
| Average for All Consumers | Average for Consumers With an 850 FICO® Score | |
|---|---|---|
| FICO® Score | 715 | 850 |
| Number of credit cards | 3.9 | 5.8 |
| Credit card balance | $6,501 | $3,028 |
| Number of retail credit cards | 2.7 | 3.8 |
| Retail credit card balance | $1,188 | $194 |
| Auto loan balance | $23,792 | $19,296 |
| Mortgage balance | $244,498 | $245,710 |
| Non-mortgage loan balance | $23,964 | $17,545 |
| Credit utilization ratio | 29% | 4% |
| Total tradelines ever delinquent | 1.5 | 0 |
Source: Experian data as of Q3 2023
A few traits of perfect-credit consumers:
- Lower debt balances nearly across the board: Balances are similar among all borrowers with mortgagesâmore people with 850 scores have mortgages than those who dont, and those who do are likely able to purchase “more” house due to their superior credit history.
- Credit utilization thats near zero: On average, consumers with perfect scores tend to carry more credit cards (both retail and otherwise), but their credit utilization rate is much lower. Credit utilization is one of the most important factors in credit score calculations, and those with the highest scores tend to keep it in the low single-digit percentages.
- Delinquencies are not a concern: With an average number of delinquencies sitting at zero, perfect-score consumers are paying their bills on time.
And while its not shown in the above table, those with perfect credit scores also have lengthy credit histories. According to Experian data, baby boomers and other older consumers comprise 66% of the consumers with 850 FICO® Scores, and Generation X another 26%. Millennials and younger consumers, so far anyway, account for less than 8%.
In brief: The summit isnt out of reach. Although the average FICO® Score of 715 suggests most consumers have room to grow, many of those with even slightly above-average scores already exhibit at least some of the characteristics that go into a maxed-out FICO® Score. Score improvement might just be a matter of time.
More Perfect Credit Scores in Midsize Metros
In 50 of the 374 metropolitan areas in the U.S., more than 2% of consumers have perfect scoresâsignificantly higher than the 1.54% national average. There are three types of metros found in the top 10:
- Midsize metros in close proximity to larger metros; for instance, Boulder, Colorado, adjoins larger Denver, while Corvallis, Oregon, is down the road from larger Portland.
- Large metrosâsuch as Washington, D.C., and the Greater San Francisco Bay Areaâwhere much of the regional economy are seats of well-compensated sectors such as information technology and defense.
- Metros in states that have a higher concentration of perfect scores, such as Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Madison, Wisconsin.
- California metros have nabbed the top five spots of metros with the highest percentage of consumers with perfect credit scores. Close to 1 in 40 consumers in California have an 850 FICO® Score.
Rounding out the other top 10 metros are Corvallis, Oregon; Boulder, Colorado; Minneapolis; Honolulu; and Ocean City, New Jersey.
| Metro Areas With Highest Concentration of Perfect Credit Scores | |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California | 2.51% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, California | 2.48% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, California | 2.47% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California | 2.43% |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, California | 2.42% |
| Corvallis, Oregon | 2.38% |
| Boulder, Colorado | 2.35% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota | 2.32% |
| Honolulu, Hawaii | 2.31% |
| Ocean City, New Jersey | 2.31% |
Source: Experian data as of September 2023
What Is The Highest Credit Score You Can Get
FAQ
Does anyone have a 900 credit score?
What is the highest credit score in the world?
What’s the best credit score to have? It might be exciting to aim for 850, the highest possible FICO score, but it really comes with no additional benefits.
Has anyone gotten an 850 credit score?
Despite achieving an 850 score, Michell found that it had little impact on his financial life, as interest rates and insurance costs remained unchanged.Jan 4, 2025
Who has 825 credit scores?
Your score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is considered Exceptional. Your FICO® ScoreΘ and is well above the average credit score. Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
What is the highest credit score possible?
Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy. Most credit scores that lenders use in the United States range from 300 to 850. And when people talk about achieving the “highest” credit score possible, they’re usually talking about the ever-elusive 850 FICO® Score.
Which states have the highest credit score?
Metros in states that have a higher concentration of perfect scores, such as Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Madison, Wisconsin. California metros have nabbed the top five spots of metros with the highest percentage of consumers with perfect credit scores. Close to 1 in 40 consumers in California have an 850 FICO ® Score.
What is a good credit score?
Most credit scores that lenders use in the United States range from 300-850. Base FICO® Scores and most VantageScore credit scores follow this credit score range. However, there are industry-specific credit scores such as FICO® Auto Score and FICO Bankcard Scores that range from 250-900.
How do I get the highest credit score?
You can achieve the highest credit score by taking a variety of essential steps. Still, for many people, it’s difficult considering the range of factors that dictate the highest credit score possible. Your FICO score is drawn from information in your credit reports from the three main reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Where are perfect credit scores most common?
You’ll find consumers with perfect credit scores everywhere in the U.S., although they’re slightly more common in Western states than other regions of the country. When broken out by region, three regions have higher-than-average rates of perfection, while only 1.22% have a perfect score in the South.
What percentage of people have a good credit score?
About 21% of consumers have “exceptional” credit scores, defined as scores between 800 and 850, according to Experian data. About 25% have “very good” scores, and 21% have “good” scores. Others have fair (17%) or very poor credit scores (16%). What Is the Fastest Way to Raise Your Credit Score?