I suspect you are right. There are many cases where people in that industry either spent or lost it all. Royalties from reruns and all.

Durant who put General motors together landed up living in a hotel room with GM paying the rent.

Even worse in history is where some of the most influential and prolific people that actually changed the world. Where not compensated in any way. I thought I knew everything Michael Faraday invented or worked on for example.

He was responsible in many ways for England becoming a superpower at one time. Yet he was never compensated. They loaned him a small house to finish his years in. As his mind declined.

Why I used him as an example something important was just credited to him as well. I read not long ago. It has slipped my mind what it was. Why this was suppressed for so long needs an answer.