You can watch three videos on Einstein's theory of gravity explaining "how gravity REALLY works" and get different answers. Two are claiming objects fall to earth due to "time dilation" (the change in clock synchronization at higher altitudes or speeds), while the other claims it is because we on earth are accelerating upwards at 9.82 meters per second, an even more absurd idea for obvious reasons on a spherical earth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjT85AxTmI0
If those are the best explanations these top minds can come up with, the only real conclusion is that Einstein's theory fails to explain the most basic examples of observable gravity. Namely you drop something and it falls to Earth, or you jump and fall back down to Earth.
I'm not saying Einstein did this intentionally, or because he was a big bad evil Jew. His theories did (apparently anyway) get several predictions right or right enough to make it look valid. But all it takes is one major flaw to invalidate the theory and go back to the drawing board. Or do what modern scientists do and keep doing mental gymnastics to avoid doing any useful and original work.
Physics has probably been set back half a century by people clinging to this idea for too long. It may have some true elements, but it is conceptually wrong and mathematically flawed. It relies on undefined hocus pocus (space-time curvature) that has led scientists (particularly astronomers) to very erroneous understandings of the universe.
I think that some of the things that drives innovation are not money.
One might be very competitive and want to disprove existing theories or come up with better ones that change the body of science and cause a riff that scientists must now contend with.
Another motive might be to simply challenge everything perceived to be truth or the dominating theory. This might be someone who likes to argue and is so good at it they could even argue the other person's argument, on their behalf, better than they can.
Another motive might be distrust. With greater access to information comes greater access to propaganda and massive group think and mass formation psychosis. The utilization of this massive cohesive propaganda system one may be able to massively and largely spread lies and fool people over the span of many decades and a few generations.
I also believe that many of the greatest scientists, most of whom were probably forgotten or had their life's work stolen from them, studied the science because of genuine fascination and the curiosity of their inquisitive mind. Someone who cherishes the taste and experience of a fine wine might study vineyards and exact the science.
I don't worry too much about why gravity exists or what causes it. I've just learned to adapt and live with it, to be cautious at heights, to be careful when carrying items, to behave as if gravity is always present as a physical force.