Thats an interesting theory, Fame. Roth's modest lifestyle (his home, cars, clothing, etc.) would back up your "take" on him (about not being all that interested in money).

The others that examined the gold phone were businessmen. They might have been executives in large corporations but the bottom line was they were working men. They may have been well off, but they certainly weren't as rich as Roth, and so they were probably more impressed by the phone (because of its value). What gets me is the two guys from the telephone corporation who gave the gift of the phone looked so astonished at it. Didn't they know what they were bringing to Cuba?

A very symbolic scene followed this one ... when all the wiseguys were sitting on the hotel patio celebrating Roth's birthday he (Roth) cut the cake. The cake had a map of Cuba on it, and it was symbolic of them "slicing up" the island amongst themselves.