Do you think that the rich people financing the scientific communities of yore, that had no immediate benefit for them, made a mistake? The work of many importa

Do you think that the rich people financing the scientific communities of yore, that had no immediate benefit for them, made a mistake? The work of many important scientists and artists in the past only was possible because some rich benefactors had more money they could spend. Companies fund the research with short-term yields, and the rich finance the crazy longshots just to see the fireworks.