Steve Jobs became known around Apple headquarters for a strange habit that turned into one of Silicon Valley’s most famous billionaire stories.

For years, Jobs was frequently seen driving luxury cars without license plates. According to reports and former employees, he allegedly took advantage of a California law that allowed newly purchased or leased vehicles to legally operate without permanent plates for a limited period of time.

Instead of keeping one car long term, Jobs reportedly leased a new silver Mercedes-Benz every few months, allowing him to continuously avoid needing plates altogether.

The story became even more talked about because of claims that he would sometimes park in handicap spaces for convenience, reportedly believing he would only be inside briefly. That behavior drew criticism from many people around Apple’s campus and later became part of the larger mythology surrounding Jobs’ unconventional personality.

To many people, the entire situation reflected the unique culture of early Silicon Valley — where brilliant innovation, massive wealth, and eccentric behavior often seemed to exist side by side.

What fascinated people most wasn’t really the car itself.

It was the idea that one of the world’s most influential tech founders found a loophole and quietly turned it into a lifestyle.