Ben grew up in Homer, Alaska, where his father still lives today. His mother lived in Hawaii, where he attended middle and high schools before joining the U.S. Army at age 18. He served 4 years in the military, doing 2 tours in Baumholder, Germany, where he worked as a battalion communications specialist and general automations guru. At the end of his enlistment, he enrolled at Yale University, where he completed a double major in Philosophy and English, as well as the writing concentration. Since college, he has been a professional gambler, independent quantitative analyst, writer, and sometimes graduate student. He married his law school sweetheart at a ceremony in the living room of his childhood home, and they recently had their first child. They also have two dogs and a cat.