New York Stock Exchange Displays ‘Romantic Value’ of the City’s Single Men

For about half an hour last week, the New York Stock Exchange tickers featured an unusual display. Instead of stock prices or market data, viewers saw the fluctuating ‘value’ of single men residing in New York City.

This unique showcase was created by the film studio A24 to promote its forthcoming movie, “Materialists.” The studio launched a website inviting single men to submit personal and physical details, including height, income, age, housing status, hair presence, and individual likes and dislikes.

An algorithm processed these inputs to assign each participant a ‘romantic value,’ which was then streamed live on the ticker at the heart of Wall Street. Throughout the week, this ranking is also being displayed on a mobile billboard traveling to prominent city locations such as the Wall Street bull, Central Park, Washington Square Park arch, and Rockefeller Center.

The authenticity of the submitted information remains uncertain; for instance, one participant named “Donald G.” reportedly has an income of $50 million. Additionally, the display provides no contact details for the men, showing only their names or pseudonyms briefly in green or red before they vanish.

Reflecting broader economic realities, only a small number of participants claim homeownership, with most indicating they rent their residences. While the total number of men who registered was not disclosed, the ticker displayed several hundred entries.