Edward Thorp

Edward Thorp is an American mathematician, author, and hedge fund manager renowned for applying mathematical strategies to gambling and investing. In the 1960s, he developed techniques using card counting to beat casino games like blackjack. Later, he applied quantitative analysis to finance, creating some of the first hedge funds and pioneering risk management and algorithmic trading. Thorp’s work demonstrated that understanding odds and patterns could generate consistent profits in unpredictable environments, fundamentally changing gambling, investing, and financial risk management practices.