> Today such a research environment exists only in our dreams, short of winning a MacArthur Fellowship. Most researchers today work in environments where their direction is heavily influenced by the people funding them. In order for researchers to pursue their own research vision and be paid for it, they must persuade a company or a funding agency that the pursuit of this vision will benefit the funders.

The Thiel fellowship program which is similar produced many billionaires from somewhat new technology, maybe not quite fundamental research. However some of them achieved it through ponzi schemes with world changing amounts of carbon burned for cryptomining waste heat.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiel_Fellowship#Recipients