In economics this is what is called rent-seeking behavior, and I think it probably is an exceptionally interesting area of research to study how financialization of industries modifies rent-seeking behavior in those industries. My own hunch is that it probably increases significantly.

I know you aren't promoting it, but to answer your question:

> Why innovate and create when I can live like a king just playing our economic, governmental, and social systems like a fiddle?

Because the entire country is going to implode.

2008: financial crisis

2016: political crisis

2008: financial crisis

2016: political crisis

2020: deadly pandemic, inducing a financial crisis, while also collapsing the real economy, on top of four years of political crisis

Political crisis? Yeah I'll pass