Encouraged by Warren Buffett's recent decision to pledge the bulk of his assets to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, last week in Dubai Bill and Melinda convened the world's 100-richest for five days of indoor skiing; sunbathing on artificial islands; and philanthropic, education chat. The list of seminars included titles such as "Why We Need Your Money" and "Learning to Give--Giving to Learn"; Bill Clinton also presented a speech about legacy. Unfortunately, the event quickly devolved into debauchery on the first day after the 17-year-old Google founders--having downed 3 bottles of Clos du Mesnil from a 4-story-high beer funnel--streaked through the hotel lobby screaming, "Net neutrality rules!" That same night, Buffett hosted in his suite a party that got a little out of hand; Rupert Murdoch reportedly passed out, and George Soros wrote lewd words on his face with a Sharpie. And almost no conferees attended the second-day's morning meetings, opting instead for Prince Alwaleed Weedwala Bin Talal Alsaud's poolside wet burka contest. After Diddy and his entourage arrived, all pretensions to work were dropped. Gates wasn't overly disappointed. "It's okay," he told reporters. "These guys don't get out much."
"Billionaires Gone Wild," Wild on E! , March 28, 2007
"Murdoch to Soros: ‘Chug!,'" by T.E. Stanley Lawrence Livingstone, Dubai Mirage, March 27, 2007