Home / Speakers / Rutger Bregman
Rutger Bregman Keynote Speaker and Dutch historian

Rutger Bregman

Historian | Bestselling Author, Humankind & Moral Ambition | BBC Reith Lecturer | Co-Founder, School for Moral Ambition

Check Availability & Fees
Response
within 24h
No
obligation
One contact,
start to finish

Few thinkers have changed the conversation on human nature and purpose like Rutger Bregman. The Dutch historian behind Utopia for Realists, Humankind, and Moral Ambition, books that have sold over two million copies in 46 languages, he delivered the BBC Reith Lectures and co-founded the School for Moral Ambition. Audiences leave challenged to aim their talent at the problems that matter most.

Want to book Rutger Bregman as a speaker for your event?

Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:









    For paid speaking engagements.

    Rutger Bregman biography

    Historian and bestselling author speaker Rutger Bregman is one of Europe’s most prominent young thinkers, a Dutch historian whose books have reshaped public debate about human nature, work, and what it means to live a meaningful life. His three bestsellers, Utopia for Realists, Humankind: A Hopeful History, and Moral Ambition, have sold more than two million copies and been translated into 46 languages.

    Bregman studied history at Utrecht University and UCLA and made his name as a journalist at the Dutch platform De Correspondent, where Utopia for Realists began as a series of articles. The book made the case for ideas such as universal basic income and a shorter workweek and became a New York Times bestseller, as did Humankind, which argues that most people are fundamentally decent and that institutions work better when built on trust. Moral Ambition, a Sunday Times bestseller, urges talented people to stop wasting their careers and aim their ambition at the world’s biggest problems.

    From Davos to the BBC Reith Lectures

    Bregman became a global name when, on a World Economic Forum panel in Davos, he told a room of billionaires that the real issue was not philanthropy but taxes. His TED talk arguing that poverty is a lack of cash, not character, was chosen by TED’s curator as one of the year’s top ten talks. In 2025 he delivered the BBC Reith Lectures, Britain’s most prestigious public lecture series, under the title Moral Revolution. He also co-founded the School for Moral Ambition, a nonprofit funded by proceeds from his book that helps professionals move into high-impact careers, and Humankind is being adapted into a documentary series.

    As a speaker, Rutger Bregman pairs a historian’s command of evidence with a provocateur’s energy and humor. He challenges audiences’ assumptions about human nature, ambition, and progress, then makes a hopeful, practical case for building organizations and careers around trust and impact. Leaders leave energized, with a sharper sense of purpose and a renewed belief that bold change is possible.

    Rutger Bregman Speaking Videos

    Poverty isn't a lack of character; it's a lack of cash | Rutger Bregman
    Why we should give everyone a basic income | Rutger Bregman | TEDxMaastricht

    Rutger Bregman Speaking Topics

    The average career lasts about 2,000 workweeks, and too many of them are spent on work that feels meaningless. Drawing on his book Moral Ambition, Bregman makes the case for a new kind of ambition: the drive to excel by doing the most good. With stories of history’s great movements and modern changemakers, he shows individuals and organizations how to redirect talent from prestige toward impact, and why that shift can be a source of energy, innovation, and pride.

    For centuries we have assumed that people are selfish at heart, and we have built our workplaces, schools, and politics around that idea. Based on Humankind, Bregman draws on history, psychology, and economics to show that most people are fundamentally decent, and that organizations designed around trust outperform those built on suspicion. Leaders leave with a new lens on motivation, culture, and management.

    Universal basic income, shorter workweeks, rethinking growth: ideas dismissed as utopian today can become mainstream tomorrow. Drawing on Utopia for Realists, Bregman traces how yesterday’s radical proposals became today’s common sense, and challenges audiences to think bigger about the future of work, wealth, and society.

    Explore related topics

    Bestselling Author SpeakersEconomics SpeakersFamous SpeakersFuture of Work Speakers

    FAQs on Booking Rutger Bregman

    Booking Rutger Bregman brings your audience one of the most influential thinkers of his generation. The Dutch historian behind three international bestsellers (Utopia for Realists, Humankind, and Moral Ambition), with more than two million copies sold in 46 languages, he delivered the BBC Reith Lectures and co-founded the School for Moral Ambition. Witty, provocative, and grounded in history, he challenges what audiences believe about human nature and ambition, and leaves them inspired to put their talent to work on what matters. He is an ideal choice for leadership summits, purpose and sustainability events, and conferences on the future of work. To bring Rutger Bregman to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.

    At a World Economic Forum panel in Davos, Bregman criticized the gathering for focusing on philanthropy while largely ignoring tax avoidance, arguing that the real conversation should be about “taxes, taxes, taxes.” The moment went viral worldwide and was followed by a widely shared interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

    The School for Moral Ambition is a nonprofit Bregman co-founded to help talented professionals move into careers that tackle the world’s most pressing problems. It is funded in part by proceeds from his book Moral Ambition, and Bregman has stepped back from its board to keep its funding decisions independent.

    Bregman speaks on moral ambition and purpose-driven careers, human nature and trust, the future of work, and how bold ideas such as universal basic income move into the mainstream. Each talk is tailored to the audience and combines history, research, and humor. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to customize a session for your event.

    Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Rutger Bregman as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Rutger Bregman's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Rutger Bregman or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.

    Rutger Bregman speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Rutger Bregman to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Rutger Bregman.

    We only work with Rutger Bregman on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Rutger Bregman and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Rutger Bregman speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Rutger Bregman for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.

    Yes, Rutger Bregman is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Rutger Bregman for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.