How much is platinum worth for Intel?

On Tuesday, the irony of the day prize went to VMware and Intel. Remember that it had only just emerged that Intel had decided to invest a six figure sum in VMware. That has left VMware, that well know EMC company, with a load of cash to spend on getting more out of virtualisation.
Now VMware with all that EMC money behind them already, can sit and quietly count up all that case. Can a humble virtualisation company spend all that money? I am sure they will find a way.
Part of if is already spent with Intel as the only platinum sponsor of the VMware conference. Can nobody break into this cozy cash-driven circle. The rich do certainly get richer it seems.