Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian, bestselling author, and co-founder of The School for Moral Ambition. Initially considering a career in academia, he chose to pursue journalism, beginning at the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant before spending a decade at the independent platform De Correspondent.
Originally written as a series of articles De Correspondent, Bregman first published Utopia for Realists: And How We Can Get There in the Netherlands in 2014. In the three years since its initial publication, the book has become an international bestseller, sparking a national movement for universal basic income (UBI) and garnering praise from intellectual heavyweights.
A pioneering advocate for universal basic income, Bregman gained global attention with his provocative 2019 speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Twice nominated for the European Press Prize for his journalism, he has been described by The Guardian as “the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas” and by TED as “one of Europe’s most prominent young thinkers.” His TED Talk, Poverty Isn’t a Lack of Character; It’s a Lack of Cash, went viral and was selected by TED curator Chris Anderson as one of the top ten talks of 2017.
Bregman published Humankind: A Hopeful History in 2019, followed by Moral Ambition:Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference in 2025. In the book, he challenges conventional career success metrics, such as high salaries and prestigious titles, urging professionals to direct their talents toward pressing global issues including climate change, inequality, and pandemics. All proceeds from the book are dedicated to funding the Dutch non-profit foundation The School for Moral Ambition, which he co-founded in 2024 to help individuals pursue careers with meaningful impact. In December 2025, he delivered the prestigious BBC Reith Lectures.
Bregman studied History at Utrecht University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
