Nobel Prize-Winning Economist & Auction Theory Pioneer; Adams Distinguished Professor of Management, Emeritus at Stanford; Co-Inventor of the Simultaneous Multiple Round Auction

Stanford, CA, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Robert B. Wilson Biography

Robert B. Wilson is recognized for his foundational contributions to auction theory, market design, game theory, and information economics. Wilson earned his A.B., M.B.A., and Doctor of Business Administration degrees from Harvard University and joined the faculty of Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where he has held the title of Adams Distinguished Professor of Management, Emeritus. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Wilson's research focuses on the economics of auctions and strategic behavior under uncertainty. He formalized the concept of the winner's curse, describing how auction winners may overpay by not accounting for information revealed by competitors' bids. This concept, developed through consulting work with the U.S. Department of the Interior on offshore oil lease auctions, has influenced how industries and governments approach competitive bidding. Wilson's work on nonlinear pricing, detailed in the textbook "Nonlinear Pricing," has shaped pricing strategies in the energy and utility sectors. He has also contributed to game theory, including the development of sequential equilibria with David Kreps.

Wilson co-invented the Simultaneous Multiple Round Auction (SMRA) with Paul Milgrom and Preston McAfee, a format adopted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to allocate radio frequency spectrum licenses. The SMRA format has generated significant public revenue and has been adopted by governments worldwide for allocating complex public assets.

Wilson was jointly awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with Paul Milgrom for improvements to auction theory and the invention of new auction formats. His influence extends to mentorship, with doctoral students such as Paul Milgrom, Alvin E. Roth, and Bengt Holmström each receiving the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.

Wilson has received honors including the Golden Goose Award, the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award, the CME Group-MSRI Prize, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. He has consulted for organizations such as the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Federal Communications Commission, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Canadian Competition Bureau. With a career spanning more than six decades and over 100 published articles and books, Wilson's work demonstrates the application of rigorous economic theory to public policy and industry challenges.

BOOK Robert B. Wilson

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/30/2026.

Robert B. Wilson Videos

Paul Milgrom, Robert Wilson win Nobel economics prize

Paul Milgrom, Robert Wilson win Nobel economics prize

U.S. economists Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson won the 2020 Nobel Economics Prize for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction...

Interview with Robert Wilson, Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Economics

Interview with Robert Wilson, Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Economics

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Economics, Finance and Management has been granted in this eighth edition to Robert B. Wilson for...

  • How do I book Robert B. Wilson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Robert B. Wilson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Robert B. Wilson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Robert B. Wilson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Robert B. Wilson

    Speaking fees for Robert B. Wilson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Robert B. Wilson are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Robert B. Wilson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Robert B. Wilson speak about?

    Robert B. Wilson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Economy, Finance, Professors
  • Where does Robert B. Wilson travel from?

    Robert B. Wilson generally travels from Stanford, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Robert B. Wilson’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Robert B. Wilson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Robert B. Wilson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Robert B. Wilson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Robert B. Wilson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Robert B. Wilson for your event is available upon request. Robert B. Wilson generally travels from Stanford, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Gopi Shah Goda, Paul Milgrom, Emi Nakamura, Joseph Quinlan and Raj Chetty. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Robert B. Wilson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP