By the age of 16, he was some $200,000 in debt and was able to settle with his creditors using a $37,000 loan from his father under the condition he attend college.[9] Rubin agreed, continuing to operate the business, which grew to five ski shops before he entered college.[9] He attended Villanova University[10] for a semester before dropping out after realizing a large gain on an opportunistic transaction (buying $200,000 in overstock equipment at a deep discount with $17,000 borrowed from a friend and re-selling it for $75,000).[9]