Big Night Out: The Ninth Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Benefit

Photos: Jaime McCarthy -- Wireimage

Last night marked the ninth annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street, and Sir Elton (above) and his husband David Furnish seem to have gotten all of their friends to turn out in style, apparently with cash in hand -- the event raised over $2 million dollars. A silent auction included a lunch with the evening's host, Anderson Cooper, who suggested that he might put out on the date -- a joke that fell rather flat with gay men in the audience who seemed to collectively roll their eyes. The luncheon did however go for $70k. Also on hand at the black tie gala were Hugh Jackman (below left), Baz Lerhmann (below right), Billie Jean King, Vera Wang, Bryan Batt, Christina Ricci, and Cheyenne Jackson.

And Reg didn't just show up to glad hand -- he also performed seven songs, including "Tiny Dancer," "Levon," and "Rocket Man." For future note: a ticket to the EJAF is well worth the price of admission, because as a host, he comes to play.

-- BILL KEITH

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