You have to remember the majority of the money backing BMW/Oracle comes from Larry Ellison. His lates adventures are building a 400 foot plus yacht, and building a Japanese estate in Woodside, Ca. that was budgeted for $40 million but ended up somewhere north of $120 mil. It has an eight acre man made lake.

Larry also decided that his two seat Italian trainer jet didn't have enough performance so he tried to buy a brand new F-16. The feds pulled the plug on that deal.

Larry wanted the St. Francis YC (A REAL money club) to be the club of record for his latest A/C challenge. When they objected because he wanted seats on the board, he went down the breakwater to the Golden Gate YC (a little low bucks club). They welcomed him with open arms. If Larry wins the A/C, the GGYC becomes the big dog on SF bay.

$500? Chump change.