Edward O. Thorp

Edward Oakley "Ed" Thorp (born August 14, 1932) is an American mathematics professor, author, hedge fund manager, and blackjack counter. Known as the "father of the wearable computer" for inventing the first one in 1961, he also authored "Beat the Dealer" (1962), mathematically proving card counting could overcome blackjack's house advantage. Thorp pioneered modern probability theory applications for financial gain and developed effective hedge fund techniques. He received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1958 and taught at MIT, New Mexico State, and UC Irvine.