If you could sell IQ points, how much would you sell each individual point for and why?

I’ve never had my IQ tested, so I don’t really know where I stand in that department. Judging by my grades and other test scores, though, I’m probably above 100. So let’s say I’m at 110 for the sake of this argument.

Would I notice the difference between 110 and 109? Would it cost me happiness or wealth? Probably not. In fact the standard deviation on an IQ test is around 15 points, meaning that nearly 70% of people are between 90 and 110. They are a mostly happy lot, no?

So for me, this first point is worth practically nothing. In fact, I’ll most likely lose it to age regardless of what I do. But to someone else, that IQ point might be the difference between being able to live alone or not, or between being able to win a Nobel Prize or not.

So how much would I charge? I wouldn’t. I’d auction the point. Opening bid is one million dollars. The auction is silent – people might be ashamed of this sort of thing, and I want them as buyers.

Chances are I’d only have to sell one point to retire comfortably with my slightly-less-smart self.

109 on the beach in Tahiti sounds better than 110 in the frigid tundra of Michigan any day.