Well, the laws around insider trading and similar practices changed throughout history. Many things used to be considered okay, look up Joseph P. Kennedy's biog

Well, the laws around insider trading and similar practices changed throughout history. Many things used to be considered okay, look up Joseph P. Kennedy's biography for example. You are right that if the officials actually cared about companies, it would not make sense. I was thinking more like hedge fund-like cold speculation. As people guessed correctly, the point is to make the job very appealing but with little ties to powerful interests. Of course is not a serious scheme, but I'm amused by the concept I guess.