The founders of 3 of the top 4 US companies (by market cap), married or had a long-term dating relationship with a subordinate employee.

The 4th married a student he met while giving a guest lecture and then asked on a date in the parking lot afterward.

The 5th and 6th were dating their spouses before founding their companies.

The 7th and 8th were over 100 years ago so the history is too hard for me to track.

I'm not sure what you're implying, but it doesn't seem positive. Forgive me if I'm mis-interpreting things.

We were in separate departments and hierarchy was not an issue. We've been together so long for love, nothing else...

The way I read it is that the rule doesn't always reflect 100% of reality.

I think I can see your interpretation, but others seem to have read it the way I did and decided not to believe me, so I'm not sure where it falls. Just tried to insert a happy comment into the chain. Oh well :/

So, you are #1,2 or 3?