The author at age five.The author at age five.

The author at age five.

The author with lab equipment. This photo was taken in Lomita, a town in Southern California where he lived and attended Narbonne High School.The author with lab equipment. This photo was taken in Lomita, a town in Southern California where he lived and attended Narbonne High School.

Lomita News (this newspaper has since folded)

The author with lab equipment. This photo was taken in Lomita, a town in Southern California where he lived and attended Narbonne High School.

The wearable computer that beat roulette. Completed in June 1961 by Claude Shannon and Edward Thorp and used successfully in Vegas. It is now in the MIT Museum.The wearable computer that beat roulette. Completed in June 1961 by Claude Shannon and Edward Thorp and used successfully in Vegas. It is now in the MIT Museum.

The wearable computer that beat roulette. Completed in June 1961 by Claude Shannon and Edward Thorp and used successfully in Vegas. It is now in the MIT Museum.

Hedging warrants, 1966. From Beat the Market.Hedging warrants, 1966. From Beat the Market.

Random House

Hedging warrants, 1966. From Beat the Market.

A simple mechanical device for counting cards and calculating the advantage, built in 1964.A simple mechanical device for counting cards and calculating the advantage, built in 1964.

A simple mechanical device for counting cards and calculating the advantage, built in 1964.

Counting cards at the Tropicana Hotel, 1964.Counting cards at the Tropicana Hotel, 1964.

Don Cravens, Life magazine

Counting cards at the Tropicana Hotel, 1964.

Working with my PhD thesis students Dorothy Daybell and David Arterburn, New Mexico State University, 1964.Working with my PhD thesis students Dorothy Daybell and David Arterburn, New Mexico State University, 1964.

George Kew, Life magazine

Working with my PhD thesis students Dorothy Daybell and David Arterburn, New Mexico State University, 1964.

Chairing a session at a mathematics meeting, 1964.Chairing a session at a mathematics meeting, 1964.

Don Cravens, Life magazine

Chairing a session at a mathematics meeting, 1964.

A standard European single zero roulette. Our wearable computer is on display in the background.A standard European single zero roulette. Our wearable computer is on display in the background.

A standard European single zero roulette. Our wearable computer is on display in the background.

Playing blackjack at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, 1981, with Stanford Wong (left) and Peter Griffin (right).Playing blackjack at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, 1981, with Stanford Wong (left) and Peter Griffin (right).

Gambler’s Book Club Press, Las Vegas, Nevada

Playing blackjack at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, 1981, with Stanford Wong (left) and Peter Griffin (right).

UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1963: Mathematician Claude E. Shannon, inventor of information theory, which may show science how to simulate workings of human brain. (Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1963: Mathematician Claude E. Shannon, inventor of information theory, which may show science how to simulate workings of human brain. (Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Claude Shannon.

The cover of Beat the Dealer.The cover of Beat the Dealer.

Cover design by Richard Adelson. Cover photograph by Tom Campbell/Alpha

The cover of Beat the Dealer.

Vivian and Edward Thorp at home, 2004.Vivian and Edward Thorp at home, 2004.

Vivian and Edward Thorp at home, 2004.