I'm reading "The Prize", a history of the oil industry. Chapter 1 introduces a Professor Silliman [0], who was commissioned to write a report on the practical fractionation of what would later become kerosene. When the investors became stingy and failed to make even a down payment, the professor left town, knowing their venture would fail without him. He was paid his asking price shortly thereafter.

[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Silliman_Jr%2e