In 2011, a blackjack player made $20 million over 4 months,

and ended up bringing some of the topmost casinos to their knees.

Here's the crazy story of how he pulled it off.

🧵

Don Johnson grew up taking care of his uncle’s racehorses in Salem, Oregon.

After taking interest in them, he began riding them competitively at age 15.

He then became a professional jockey.

As a jockey, he had to stay on a strict routine and take medications to keep his natural weight off and remain slim.

Eventually he couldn't keep up the routine.

So, he quit the job, and went to Philadelphia to manage racetracks.

Johnson was hired to manage the Philadelphia Park.

That race track evolved into the Parx Casino, in Bensalem.

Johnson was in charge of day-to-day operations, including the betting operation.

That's where he started learning about gambling.

Between 1990 and 2010, Johnson’s career has moved from managing racetracks to being a state regulator in the gambling industry.

Around 2000, he started a business that does computer-assisted wagering on horses.