Each year, Warren Buffett hosts a philanthropic lunch in New York at the Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse. The charity that benefits is San Francisco’s Glide Foundation, which serves the poor and disenfranchised. Lunch goes to the highest bidder. Buffett broke bread in 2009 with Chinese businessman Zhao Danyang for $2.1 million. Buffett told Liz Claman of Fox Business Network that he could buy about 425,000 of his normal $5 meals for the same amount.

Smith & Wollensky general manager, Tom Hart, relates an amazing anecdote about Buffett. “In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like it,” says Hart, who has worked at the restaurant since 1977.

Hart has seen any number of celebrities come in. Derek Jeter is a big fan and frequent visitor. Heroes from the baseball, football, basketball, and hockey worlds visit. Politicians and actors also often dine there.

One particular day, a world-famous movie star arrived. It was the glamorous Sophia Loren. “The table next to hers got quiet and then the whole restaurant went quiet,” recalled Hart.

The sole person to top her was an unassuming fellow from Omaha.  When Buffett walked in for his charity lunch, the restaurant fell completely spellbound. Only Buffett, Hart said, can turn more heads than Sophia Loren.