I read a book called Genius recently, and now you can see who the MacArthur Foundation has tapped for their so-called (although not by them) "genius" grants. Their areas of interest range from dance to physics to music. Apparently there is no application process; you have to be selected by their nominators, who are chosen anew each year.
I only recognize the name of one of this year's recipients, at least on first read. Nonetheless, this is pretty cool. Learn more by looking over their FAQ.