I've been combo hunting for roughly 20 years now. I can safely say that no one I ever tried for I've failed as many times as Bill Gates. For the past 15 years I had so many wasted early mornings, so much bullying from cops and security guards, so many denials and blow offs, so much time wasted. Even a $25 traffic ticket (that I paid for and by miracle did not incur me driving points probably in part due to it being from a different state).
But finally in September of 2025 I broke the curse. He was attending a government function and about 5 minutes away was a hotel for an awards function. The day before the events I do one flight for the awards event. Namely Cheech Marin flying in. He signed and I got another photo op.
Now it's event day and I start at the government event. I get Lisa Su (update) and a couple of others. Also get Tim Cook to sign (I would see Tim cook throughout and only got autographs since I have a photo op).
Then it happened. Bill Gates walks out the car to go in. I begged and pleaded for the op as he continued walking. I skirted around his security guard and even ignored being yelled at by secret service. Yes, that's right, secret service. This was the one name I wasn't going to comply on! I positioned my camera for the selfie and lo and behold Bill Gates was posing for my camera for the first time in 15 years! I literally thought I was seeing things.
Go to the hotel for the awards event, I get Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, actress Paulina Chavez (update), a dancer who goes by Crazy Legs, and designer Henry R Munoz III. I miss Gloria Trevi and Mayan Lopez.
Back to the government event I get former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and another huge photo op score, co-founder of Google Sergey Brin! He refused autographs. But glory didn't end there. Leaving the event Bill Gates was standing there with his security guard trying to stop things. He comes up and by miracle he signed and I got an 8x10 done. I've had that Costco print in my possession for almost 15 years! It may very well be the longest gap ever between printing an 8x10 and getting it signed. I told him it's just the 2 of us to which he said "as long as more don't show up" as he signed. I also got more Tim Cook autographs.
Back to the awards event success went on. Got Gloria Trevi who was nice and event called me over. Tried to get another photo op with Rosie Perez but she wasn't being nice like she used to be. Photo came out bad but that's ok I have photos with her from the past. Got Cheech Marin looking all nice and suited up. Was about to leave the event but decided to stay a little longer. I see George Lopez's daughter Mayan Lopez and she is nice about the photo op.
It's not often things work out as well as they did tonight, but the timing of both events worked out, people stopped, I got lots of autographs and photo ops, AND I finally got Bill Gates. Wow what an incredible evening!
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