Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a system and/or method for zero overhead parallel entropy decoding. Exemplary aspects of the invention may comprise a decoder that comprises a demultiplexer. An encoded bit stream may be demultiplexed into a plurality of sub-streams. The encoded bit stream may be constructed without adding one or more bits to the encoded bit stream to facilitate the demultiplexing. Exemplary aspects of the invention may also comprise an encoder that comprises a multiplexer. Each of a plurality of encoded sub-streams may be multiplexed into an encoded bit stream. The encoded bit stream may be constructed without adding one or more bits to the encoded bit stream to indicate the multiplexing.