[dymk]

Well, if they really thought it was a waste of time, they could have fired him in the first few years, but instead they kept funding his research. The company was doing one thing with its right hand, and something entirely different with its left.

I'm not saying the halo effect isn't real or not applicable here. But a multi-billion dollar invention warrants Extenuating Circumstances, and it's oh so very convenient that the CEO can say "well we don't want to inspire this kind of behavior in other employees!" after the profits are realized.