Edward Thorp

Edward Thorp is a Chicago-born mathematician who revolutionized the casino industry in 1962 with the publication of Beat the Dealer, which presented a computer-developed system for winning at the game of Blackjack. With the aid of fellow mathematicians Harvey Dubner and Julian Braun, a second edition published in 1966 remains the most popular book on the subject. The technique is referred to as Card counting.

A member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame along with Braun and others, Thorp later turned his talents to finance and became a successful hedge fund manager. His estimated net worth is $800 million. A biographical novel and adapted screenplay based on Thorp, Never Split Tens, was written by gambling professional and writer Les Golden.