Nobel Prize Winner Finds Out He's Won When Neighbour And Colleague Knocks On His Door

A man found out he had won the Nobel Prize after his pal and colleague knocked on his door in the early hours of the morning.

Economist Paul Milgrom scooped the prize for economics alongside Robert Wilson, but the organisers of the awards were unable to get in touch with Milgrom.

Undeterred by the fact it was 2.15am and Milgrom was clearly asleep, Wilson decided he would go and share the good news himself.

CCTV footage from outside Milgrom's house shows an excited Wilson walking up to the door, ringing the bell and knocking before shouting out: "Paul?"

Now, usually a knock on the door late at night isn't anything to celebrate but, in this instance, Milgrom was delighted with the visit.

He said: "You know, I was asleep and my phone is set not to take calls from unknown numbers. So, they never got through to me.

"But there came to be a knock at my door and my co-winner, Bob Wilson, who also lives across the street, came over and was knocking at my door and saying, 'Paul, wake up! You've won the Nobel Prize!'"

In the clip a clearly shocked Milgrom can be heard stumbling over his words before saying: "Wow."

Yeah, I think I'd say something similar.

In the background, Wilson's wife asks: "Will you answer your phone?"

PA

Milgrom and Wilson, who are based at Stanford University in the US, won after improving the theory of how auctions work as well as inventing better formats that are now part of the economy.

The Nobel committee said the pair's work has benefitted sellers, buyers and taxpayers the world over.

According to the committee, their work showed 'why rational bidders tend to place bids below their own best estimate of the common value' - i.e., 'the value which is uncertain beforehand but, in the end, is the same for everyone'.

Pretty impressive.

But if you think that Milgrom is going to get all big-headed about winning a Nobel Prize then you are wrong, as he modestly said: "This is economics.

"It's not the Nobel Peace Prize or something, it's not like I've gone out there and helped people settle a war."

Still, I think you can give yourself a pat on the back for this one, mate.

Topics: US News

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19