There are plenty of billionaires rich enough to support scientists for their whole careers, and certainly much more than in the past. So to make your point, you have have to argue that some sort of cultural/status effect is keeping unconventional scientists from just taking billionaire money, or disincentivizing them from giving it away.
Isn't the existing system of grants disincentivizing billionaires from giving the money away? "My taxes goes to X institution" "I donated to Y institution"
