# Most valuable human life? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971 "2014-05-21T23:08:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/21 "2014-05-22T13:54:59Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Actually, the names of the various schools have changed a bit since I was in, see [this wikipedia link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_Strike_Fighter_Tactics_Instructor_program) for details. The link has a picture of the patch. That reminds me that I have a similar patch, only the sight isn’t on the target. [eBay](http://i.ebayimg.com/t/US-Navy-Fighter-Weapons-School-Top-Gun-Have-Not-Been-To-Top-Gun-Patch-Badge-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/aGkAAOxyLm9TEi6h/$_12.JPG) [pic](http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mxxU0WB443fB9btxbNJSYxA.jpg).) In case someone comes to this thread in ten years and the pics are no longer there, a banner has been added to the top of the patch that says ‘HAVE NOT BEEN TO’. As to the question posed in this thread, mine is the most valuable life. I’m worth more to me that **Siam Sam** or **Smapti** or anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/22 "2014-05-22T14:44:32Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Now practically speaking a human life is currently worth about seven million dollars irrc. But presumably that’s for your average person. Where do you get this figure? Is it the average value of life insurance policies? If so, is it the world-wide average, irrespective of everything? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/23 "2014-05-22T15:18:30Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > No, mine is! Sez you! ---
**Author:** ![jbaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@jbaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbaker)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/24 "2014-05-22T18:39:08Z")
Measured by cost of protection: More money is spent to protect the President than anyone else in the U.S. I don’t know if that’s the most spent worldwide, though. Some foreign countries may spend large amounts to counter perceived threats to their leaders. They tend not to lead open democracies, though, so I think it would be difficult to ascertain how much is spent to protect, say, Putin. Measured by replacement cost: Key man life insurance is a handy tool, but it is not used in all cases. If the loss of a leader will lead to a large but sustainable financial hit, then the company will buy key man life insurance only if it is a good investment. Right now the most valuable CEO is probably Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. His sudden death would probably cause Berkshire Hathaway stock to lose many billions in value, notwithstanding that he is already 83. We won’t know how much the hit will be unless he does die suddenly; an orderly retirement is more likely, and that would not impact the stock in the same way. I presume that the $7 million value of a life is based on a different measure, the value assigned to a life by U.S. government agencies in assessing safety regulations. I have not verified the number. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/25 "2014-05-22T19:17:53Z")
> [@jbaker](#): > > I presume that the $7 million value of a life is based on a different measure, the value assigned to a life by U.S. government agencies in assessing safety regulations. I have not verified the number. EPA says [$7.4M.](http://yosemite.epa.gov/EE%5Cepa%5Ceed.nsf/webpages/MortalityRiskValuation.html#means) FAA [reportedly says $6M.](http://www.aviationlawmonitor.com/2011/01/articles/airlines/faa-human-life-worth-6-million/) ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/26 "2014-05-23T03:29:43Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > [The man with the golden arm](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259627/Man-golden-arm-James-Harrison-saves-2million-babies-half-century-donating-rare-blood.html)would qualify. I came in to suggest somebody completely different, but I have to concede that James Harrison is a strong contender. My suggestion is [Stephen](http://www.hawking.org.uk/)[Hawking](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking). Not only due to the cost of his medical care, but also do to the fact that he is pretty much (currently) irreplaceable. There might be others in his field almost as good as, as good as, or even better then him. His combination of work and media savvy make it hard to find ANYBODY comparable. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/27 "2014-05-23T16:15:54Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Sez you! You’re both wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/28 "2014-05-23T16:37:41Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > IMHO, my own life is more valuable than the sum total of the rest of mankind. I assume you don’t have kids. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971/29 "2014-05-24T00:36:05Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I assume you don’t have kids. You mean little hostages? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-valuable-human-life/688971.md?page=1)