Aponte was part of a team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students that legally won millions playing blackjack at casinos around the world by counting cards.
He is the basis for one of the main characters, Jason Fisher, in the book, Bringing Down the House, by Ben Mezrich,[1] which inspired the motion picture, 21.
[citation needed] He was the son of a U.S. Army tactical instructor, and his family moved on a regular basis, both within the United States and overseas.
[citation needed] Until 2000, Aponte and his colleagues achieved substantial success at casinos in the United States and other countries as well, eventually earning millions of dollars.
[4] Mike has coached several notable players including Nathaniel Tilton, author of The Blackjack Life and his playing partner "D.A.".