Inventors might not want fame. The entrepreneurial, publicity-seeking ones are unusual; but the ones we hear about. If he patented it, he'd get licensing fees

Inventors might not want fame. The entrepreneurial, publicity-seeking ones are unusual; but the ones we hear about. If he patented it, he'd get licensing fees (I'd go royalties myself). Usually, anyone called an "inventor" patents their inventions (especially if they like wealth). Even Buckminster Fuller did.