Ronald W. Burkle, one of California's richest men, has quietly amassed billions of dollars over the years, along with a collection of houses - including the silent film star Harold Lloyd's former Beverly Hills estate - and a prized art collection.

By the time he defied all expectations and delivered the Senate back to Republicans in the fall election, he had quietly amassed one of the most formidable political machines in Washington, commanding the loyalty not only of the senators he had brought into power but the entire G.O.P. caucus and the White House as well.

Hence the pressing need for a bigger contribution from Cage, who has quietly amassed the second-longest current consecutive-game streak in the N.B.A. behind A. C. Green (now at 671 at counting).

Yet it has quietly amassed an impressive array of architectural works.

Here on a 260-acre tract that is nearly equal parts commercial nursery, botanical garden and zoo, the 48-year-old farmer has quietly amassed one of the South's most important collections of rare livestock breeds.

In Germany, where the Otto family has quietly amassed an $8 billion fortune, his woes have become a cautionary tale of how foreigners can run aground on the treacherous shoals of American regulations, particularly in the far less tolerant atmosphere after the Enron and WorldCom scandals.

This squad of hard-working, disciplined players has quietly amassed one of the city's best basketball records this season in New York City, where competition among high schools is fierce and schools like Abraham Lincoln and Erasmus, both in Brooklyn, regularly produce some of the country's most spectacular stars.

While much of the country has been fixated on speculation about Colin L. Powell, the retired general, and whether he will jump into the Republican contest, Mr. Dole has quietly amassed a formidable lead in fund raising, organization, endorsements and voter support over the Republicans already in the race.

In early January, it became known that Crownx had quietly amassed 14.9 percent of Mercantile through purchases in the open market.

The normally loquacious Donald Trump has quietly amassed enough real estate and air rights to build an 861-foot-high skyscraper near the United Nations.