Yet recently one of his lesser-known investments is starting to take nips out of Microsoft, SAP and, oddly enough, even his own Oracle.
The chef Jonathan Waxman — grizzled, leisurely, bearded (barbuto, like the Irish wolfhound who inspired this restaurant's logo) — mills around an open kitchen, nibbling on bread crusts and taking little nips of wine, like a hardworking farm animal turned out to graze.
Buying supplies — sugar, yeast, oats, malt — on the sly from the local shopkeeper, they retreat to a hidden spot in the woods to cook their booze, then offer samples from bottles hidden in the pockets of their heavy coats, taking frequent nips themselves.
The company may pay little heed to working time directives, to minimum wage legislation and to the right of elves to form a union, but the elves are regularly tested to ensure they have not been taking a nip of Santa's brandy and are warned regularly that the grotto is a non-smoking environment where it is illegal to light up their pipes.
Before taking a nip, I remember my brother's friend saying, "I thought you said your brother wouldn't drink".
The models, cradling plastic baby dolls, wore curlers under their head scarves and rain bonnets, and Stella Tennant, who had on the martini dress, acted as if she had taken alcoholic nips from her baby's bottle.
She laughs and takes a nip of well-earned Scotch.
Back at their desks, do they take a nip of Scotch or unwrap an illegal cigar?
Occasionally he turns away, opens the flap of his tunic, takes a nip.
