Harvard Professor fired: The most shocking part? Not the fraud, but the salary

So, Harvard just fired a professor and no, this isn’t your average academic drama. Francesca Gino, a big name at Harvard Business School known for researching honesty and ethics, has been shown the door after being caught fudging data in multiple studies.

But here’s the real kicker: the fraud was bad, sure, but her salary? That’s what really has people’s jaws on the floor.

The rise and fall of Harvard’s "honesty expert"

Francesca Gino wasn’t just any professor. She was a star in the world of behavioral science, writing bestselling books, racking up awards, and speaking at top companies about how to build trust, promote ethical behavior, and boost integrity. Her research was quoted everywhere from boardrooms to TED Talks.

She built an empire on understanding why people lie... turns out she could’ve just looked in the mirror.It all started back in 2021, when the blog Data Colada raised suspicions about the accuracy of some of Gino’s published data. What began as quiet academic gossip turned into a full-blown scandal. Harvard launched an internal investigation, and outside experts were called in to examine her research.The result? At least four studies showed clear signs of data manipulation.

Several papers were retracted, and Gino’s academic reputation took a nosedive almost overnight.

The salary that raised eyebrows

Here’s where things go from bad to straight-up bonkers.While the data fraud is serious, what really shocked people was her paycheck. Reports suggest that Gino was pulling in over $1 million a year from Harvard alone, making her one of the highest-paid professors on campus. That’s not even counting the $50,000 to $100,000 she allegedly made per speaking gig.

Yep, people were shelling out big bucks to hear her talk about ethics.The internet did not take this well. People weren’t just mad about the fraud—they were floored that someone earning that kind of money could get away with manipulating research for so long.After being fired, Gino didn’t go quietly. She hit back with a $25 million lawsuit against Harvard, accusing the university of defamation and unfair treatment. She claims Harvard applied a new policy retroactively, giving her no fair shot at defending herself.

Some of her claims have already been thrown out, but parts of the case—like breach of contract—are still ongoing.