His father, too, seemed aghast at the flurry of interest that followed the 73-year-old's four-hour lunch with his old friend and fellow millionaire. Lunchtime stoush: Jack Cowin. Credit:Sasha Woolley "Has it got the stage in this country where a few old mates can't have a good time where no one is hurt, laugh and joke and it turns into ... a drunken rant, now this has turned into a police inquiry?" he asked 2GB's Ben Fordham. "The police inquiry will show that there was a few blokes, good mates, having a really good time." Mr Singleton and Mr Cowin were lunching with musician Jon Stevens, who was initially the target of the Sydney paparazzo Jonathan Marshall, who ended up capturing the extraordinary images of Mr Singleton launching at Mr Cowin.

Causing most controversy was video footage which showed Mr Stevens being asked about the violence. He replied "it sucks" but Mr Singleton interjects with: "Oh we love it, we love it, we love it." Mr Stevens: "He loves it, I don't." Mr Singleton then begins running towards the cameraman, yelling: "Oh I do, I f---ing love it, I f---ing love it, I f---ing love it!" The billionaire, who was adamant he wasn't drunk, told 2GB those comments were "in absolutely appalling taste, they were absolutely sick, they were absolutely inexplicable".

He apologised for his "sick sense of humour and a poor sense of timing." Daily Telegraph Ms Murtagh is seen to grab Singleton's hand as he clutched a smashed wine stem, informing him that his behaviour was not to be tolerated. Kingsleys' management declined to comment on the matter or reveal who paid the lunch bill, or even if a tip was left.

Jack Singleton told PS it was Mr Stevens who picked up the tab.He has recently been out of work thanks to controversy over domestic violence charges involving his former fiancee Jodhi Meares, which were subsequently dropped. "Yes, we had a bit of a joke about the muso paying for the millionaires' lunch," Jack Singleton said. "I'm not sure if he left a tip but we have spoken to the restaurant and they indicated they were OK with everything ... I hope Dad has sent Sinead some flowers." "It was only four bottles between five people and I mostly drank green tea ... but I do want to set one thing straight, it wasn't bloody rose we were drinking either, it was a French white wine from Sancerre."

Mr Singleton, Mr Cowin and Mr Stevens were filmed leaving the restaurant late in the afternoon with Mr Singleton being carried in the direction of the nearby Bells Hotel in Woolloomooloo. "Yes it was a silly thing for him to do, but I doubt it would rate as one the most embarrassing things he has done," Jack Singleton said. "They are still the best of mates." "Will I change? I hope so, but that's very unlikely."

Mr Cowin's net worth was estimated at $940 million in 2014 by BRW magazine. He is a majority shareholder in Competitive Foods Australia, which operates the Australian Burger King franchise under the Hungry Jack's banner. Mr Singleton was estimated to be worth $370 million by BRW last year and has pioneered a media and marketing empire. In March shareholders in Mr Singleton's Macquarie Radio Group voted in favour of a $200 million merger with Fairfax Media's radio division.