Last December, Dole agreed to a $2.5 billion buyout proposal from David H. Murdock, its billionaire chairman and chief executive.

Sumner M. Redstone, the 72-year-old billionaire chairman, said he would add the chief executive's duties.

The firm was founded in 1986 by its billionaire chairman, Ronald Burkle.

The affair was sponsored and paid for by Eli Broad, billionaire chairman and chief executive of Sun America Inc.

The conversation was dominated, however, by the subject of Bill Gates, the 38-year-old billionaire chairman of the Microsoft Corporation, and the evening's honoree.

This is not a matter of particular concern as the club is bankrolled by its Russian billionaire chairman, Roman Abramovich.

Ronald O. Perelman, the billionaire chairman of Revlon Inc., is widely thought to be interested in Time.

Less noticed was the presence of all six children of Rupert Murdoch, the News Corporation's billionaire chairman and chief executive.

But for Mr. Forstmann, the billionaire chairman of Forstmann Little, now is prime time.

Sanford I. Weill, the billionaire chairman of Citigroup, got a perk on his perks last year.