William D. Danko

Bill Danko, a renowned academic and researcher in the field of marketing, achieved emeritus status in 2007 after a distinguished 31-year career on the faculty of the School of Business at the State University of New York at Albany. During his tenure, he served as chair for 9 years and made significant contributions to the study of consumer behavior, with a specific focus on wealth formation.

His expertise in this area is evident in his co-authorship of the highly acclaimed book "The Millionaire Next Door," which was first published in 1996. The book, which is based on extensive research, provides insights into the characteristics and habits of wealthy individuals in America. The lead author, Thomas Stanley, died in 2015. In 2017, Danko coauthored “Richer Than A Millionaire — A Pathway To True Prosperity” with his colleague Richard Van Ness. The new book reiterates the principles of Next Door and shows that being charitable with your monetary wealth leads to true prosperity.

In addition to his books, Dr. Danko has published numerous academic papers in leading journals such as the Journal of Consumer Research, Business Research, and Advertising Research. His research findings have been presented at conferences and symposia in nearly every state in the US and in countries like Australia, Canada, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Taiwan.

Dr. Danko earned his Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management in 1983. Recognizing his conspicuous attainments and service in collegiate activities, he was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa society in 2005.

Currently, Dr. Danko resides in upstate New York with his wife. He is the proud father of three adult children and the doting grandfather of five. His legacy in the field of marketing and consumer behavior will continue to be felt for many years as his research and insights continue to shape how we understand and approach the topic of wealth formation.