Steve Jobs and His Love for the Porsche 911

Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple, was famous for launching one innovative product after another. However, he had a surprising side: a unique habit related to cars.

For many years, Jobs had the habit of switching to a brand-new car of the same model every six months. Specifically, he would buy a black Porsche 911 and then, after six months, switch to another black Porsche 911. This routine reportedly continued for decades.

Why Did He Switch Every Six Months?

The reason behind this seemingly odd habit was Jobs’s dislike of license plates. At that time in California, new cars were not required to have license plates installed for the first six months after purchase. Because of this, Jobs leased a new car every six months and switched to the next one, thus avoiding the need to ever attach a permanent license plate.

This loophole became known as the “Steve Jobs Loophole,” but it came to an end in January 2019. California then mandated temporary license plates upon new car sales, followed by the requirement to install official plates both front and rear.

From Porsche 911 to Mercedes-Benz SL55

Interestingly, in later years, Jobs switched his beloved car from a Porsche 911 to a Mercedes-Benz SL55. However, his habit of switching cars every six months remained unchanged.

After Jobs’s passing, California shortened the no-license-plate period to three months. Had he been alive, he might have switched cars every three months instead. But now, there’s no way to know for sure.

Steve Jobs’s beloved car

A Reflection of Jobs’s Unique Personality

This habit seems to reflect Jobs’s distinctive personality and his attention to detail. As Apple’s CEO from 1997 to 2011, he brought groundbreaking products like the iPhone to the world.

His car habit demonstrated both clever use of legal loopholes and a strong will to follow his personal preferences. This mindset may also have influenced Apple’s innovative approach, which often broke free from conventional norms.

Jobs’s enduring love for the Porsche 911 symbolizes his passion for cars and his meticulous nature.

For Porsche enthusiasts, this story about Jobs is fascinating. The Porsche 911 he loved continues to captivate many drivers today. And along with Jobs’s name, this unique habit will surely be remembered as part of Porsche’s rich history.