One of the strangest things I have noticed about humans is how we never stop being greedy. It is something we consciously or unconsciously drown ourselves in. Sometimes I sit and wonder why the richest people in the world want to make more money. I mean why not just make use of the one you have, it’ll last for all your generations. The person you speak of got drowned in greed. He didn’t even have enough funds to purse political power but he wanted it so badly and couldn’t wait till his business can stand the loss.
It is indeed something that humans can do that they will never feel enough with everything they have achieved and indeed there are those who realize it and there are also those who are not aware of this and even those who already have a lot of wealth that they can pass on to their children and grandchildren. they are still looking for all forms of income for various reasons they give and this will never end before they die.
If someone really wants something and they can never get it, of course they will continue to try to get it and if that person will try in various ways and even spend some of the money they have and still can't get what they want.