Gilberto Nogueira, better known as Gil do Vigor, conquered Brazil in 2021 by participating in Big Brother Brasil, but his career began long before the fame provided by TV.
In an exclusive conversation with the InfoMoney InterviewGil do Vigor showed Doctor Gilberto Nogueira’s side, highlighting the details of a solid academic background, in addition to explaining his doctoral thesis and sharing future plans – which involve, above all, education.
An economist graduated from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), where he also completed his master’s degree and began his doctorate, Gil was later approved for a PhD at the University of California in Davis, which has one of the most renowned programs in the world in the area of economics.
During his doctorate, Gil was invited to a visita type of briefer academic exchange, generally granted to high-level researchers, at the University of Chicago, in the same department that revealed a Nobel Prize winner in 2024.
With more than five scientific articles published, three individual and two co-authored, Gil also became a reviewer for the Journal of Development Economics, a world reference journal in development economics.
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Gilberto Nogueira’s research
In his master’s degree, the focus of Gil do Vigor’s academic research was the economy of crime, with an emphasis on the role of education as a protection mechanism for young people at risk.
“In my master’s degree, I developed a mathematical model that explains the generation of violence in the drug market, showing a paradox in the literature: one part defends repression as necessary, while another points out that the illegality of the market is what generates violence. My model demonstrates that repression should focus on the ‘wholesale’, that is, on the ‘white collar’, who we normally don’t see being arrested, and not in retail, where substitution is quick and constant”, he explained.
During his PhD, Gil further delved into studies related to violence in the illegal drug market and began investigating the impact of education on preventing the recruitment of young people into crime. The research result is significant: young people who return to school after undergoing socio-educational measures are 17% less likely to be murdered compared to those who do not return.
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“Education saves. It’s not just a nice phrase, it’s practical and proven data. If the young person doesn’t return to school, it greatly increases the chance of continuing in crime and having a tragic end”, says Gil.
Keynesian
In the interview, Gil shared his admiration for the economist John Maynard Keynes, emphasizing that the Keynesian multiplier theory had a profound impact on him when he began his journey as an economics student. For Gil, Keynes clearly explains how money in the hands of the poorest has a much greater impact on the economy than money in the hands of the richest, who tend to save rather than consume.
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“When I started studying Keynes and I became fascinated by the concept of the multiplier: giving money to the poor because they will spend it, move the economy, generate jobs and income. This makes all the difference, especially in times of recession. I identify a lot with this vision.”
No horizon
After successfully defending his thesis at Davis and gaining qualifications, the economist is preparing to submit his work in March 2026 and graduate at a ceremony in California in June. But the studies don’t stop there. In August, he will begin a postdoctoral degree at the University of Chicago, where he will continue his research.
At the same time, Gil do Vigor maintains the social project “Alô do Vigor”, which aims to bring education and knowledge to young people in different regions of Brazil, with plans to expand to more states.
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And this all happens in parallel with Gil’s career as an “artist economist”, who frequently participates in television programs such as Mais Você, presented by Ana Maria Braga, Encontro and even the house’s news programs as an economics commentator. He was also confirmed as co-host of Bate Papo BBB in 2026, a program that interviews those eliminated from the reality show.
Read the main excerpts from the interview below:
InfoMoney: Gil, the vast majority of the country knows you because of BBB, but not everyone knows why you joined the reality show. What was the reason?
Gil do Vigor: Fame ended up happening, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I was applying for the PhD and I made it clear that I wasn’t going to get famous. My initial goal on Big Brother was to get money to study. One moment that changed my perspective was when my mother got Covid and we didn’t have health insurance. I was very weakened to see that, even though I was working, doing my doctorate, I couldn’t afford a plan for her. And during that Covid period, it was science that saved people. I was a little angry. I wanted to show that research saves lives and that people need to value science and education. So, my goals when I joined the program were money to study and talk about the importance of education and science.
InfoMoney: When you left Big Brother and realized the extent of your fame, did you think about abandoning your PhD? Fame hasn’t shaken you?
Gil do Vigor: I never swayed. I get goosebumps remembering it, but while I stayed at the house, some actions took place and we were given clothes. I imagined that it would be cold in the United States, so I only separated cold weather clothes, the heaviest ones, already imagining that I would pass my PhD. In the end I had a suitcase of clothes and thought ‘If I don’t earn even one extra dollar, at least I have the clothes to live in during the cold weather in the USA’. When I found out that I was approved, I was very happy. They told me (when I left the program) ‘You’re going to make money’. But I always knew that money doesn’t buy knowledge. I was very clear to myself that if the price for me to make money was to give up my education, that price I would not pay.
InfoMoney: I wanted you to talk about your CV Lattes: what are your training and qualifications?
Gil do Vigor: I graduated in Economics from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), I also got a master’s degree from UFPE and started a doctorate there, which I didn’t finish to do my PhD at the University of California in Davis. During my PhD, I was invited to do a research period at the University of Chicago. I have more than five articles, some of them award-winning, and I am a reviewer for the Journal of Development Economics, the largest journal in the field. I also have knowledge in programming.
InfoMoney: Within your area, is your research in econometrics? Can you explain what econometrics is?
Gil do Vigor: Econometrics uses data and models to answer social and economic questions. For example, I compare groups of young people who do or do not return to school after a traumatic event, such as the death of a friend, to analyze the impact on education and behavior. Econometrics is an essential tool for carrying out quantitative analyzes and understanding complex societal phenomena.
InfoMoney: You generate a lot of content about finance, helping Brazilians understand concepts. Where do you think the biggest mistake is when managing Brazilians’ income?
Gil do Vigor: The biggest mistake is not in the Brazilian, but in the structure of education in Brazil. There is a lack of effective teaching of financial education from an early age, both at school and at home. It is important to teach how to manage the little money you have, save and invest to protect against inflation. Many people don’t know what to do with their leftover money, and that needs to change.
InfoMoney: Consumer behavior in Brazil is cultural and strong. Do you believe there is a lack of generational change in this behavior?
Gil do Vigor: Yes, there are two issues: real need and unnecessary consumption. Many people spend out of necessity, like buying a broken refrigerator, but there is also unnecessary consumption that needs to be controlled. It is important to understand your real needs, set goals to save and invest, and avoid unnecessary expenses.
InfoMoney: What economic issues do you consider urgent to enter the popular debate?
Gil do Vigor: We need to debate the scarcity, not only of money, but of opportunities. Meritocracy does not work in Brazil because opportunities are not equal. Public inclusion policies are essential to ensure that the effort is rewarded. Social inequality discourages people, even qualified ones, because they do not have the same preparation conditions.
InfoMoney: Don’t you think that your trajectory, your example attests to the effectiveness of meritocracy for some people?
Gil do Vigor: No. Attest, no. I messed up a lot. I didn’t have easy opportunities. Inequality puts up barriers that make some need to try much harder. I’m an exception, and it’s not fair that people have to suffer so much to achieve something. Public policies were fundamental for me to continue studying and dreaming.
InfoMoney: Doesn’t fame tire you at some point?
Gil do Vigor: It doesn’t tire me, because I see that my content helps people. If I weren’t famous, I wouldn’t have this reach to talk about education, science and finance. Showing that it’s normal to be afraid, to feel like an impostor, but to move forward, is important for many. Knowledge frees and no one can take that away from me.
InfoMoney: The BBB prize was R$1.5 million. You didn’t win the program, but how many times have you multiplied this amount?
Gil do Vigor: Look, what goes into your pocket is different because of agency and taxes. The money has multiplied, I have properties and investments that generate income. I bought a house for my mother in cash and today I have a stable financial life.
InfoMoney: Do you take care of your money? Are you an investor?
Gil do Vigor: I take care. I’m a conservative investor, at least at the moment.
InfoMoney: What are your future plans?
Gil do Vigor: Continue with the “Alô do Vigor” project, bringing education to more young people, expanding to other states. I have already defended my PhD and I intend to submit my thesis in March and graduate in June. In August, I start postdoc at the University of Chicago. Now it is increasingly necessary to balance these worlds: Gil as an academic and Gil as an artist, presenter. But what I most want is to build, in a very solid way, projects that help young people effectively.
