They aren't random. He's a gigantic patent troll and has a strong vested interest in maintaining the appearance of being a quirky inventor.

I suppose he genuinely is one, to a degree, but the fact that he made a killing by squeezing actual innovators en masse robs the situation of most of its charm.

A few articles that came up in google:

https://psmag.com/magazine/a-patent-boogieman-with-the-poten...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2018/06/01/after-10...