Bill Gates took rival Seymour Rubinstein to traffic court instead of a business meeting

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates once redirected a scheduled business meeting with WordStar creator Seymour Rubinstein to a traffic court appearance. Gates had a well-documented obsession with fast cars, frequently driving at high speeds and accumulating traffic violations. Rubinstein reportedly coached the young Gates on how to avoid losing his license and staying out of jail during the court visit. Gates owned several high-performance vehicles, including a Porsche, and even purchased a slow diesel Mercedes in an attempt to curb his speeding habits. Despite the unconventional detour, the encounter highlighted the informal and chaotic nature of the early personal computing industry's rivalries.