Let's assume that intelligence is a fixed characteristic that can't really be improved ) if you believe in differences in intelligence across races, then this must be the case).

In that case, there is no intellectual benefit to studying mathematics, right? Other than being interested in it because you like it, it wouldn't really make sense to learn about proofs etc

Consider this thought experiment: a relatively dumb person learns mathematics for many years (some proofs and whatnot). He is ok at it, but obviously has limited capabilities. Then a really clever person comes along and decides to pick up the same kind of math that the dumb person learned. Within months he'd probably easily surpass the dumb person right?

If you think that math departments are where all the smart people are, and all of the above is true then it would have to be the case that smart people are attracted to math and not that math makes you smart.

So /sci/, is it pointless to study math if one is interested in acquiring wealth?