What’s up with brilliant techies being flat broke

I’m not sure if it’s the circles I find myself in, but I do frequent some discord channels for certain Linux applications I use and world of Warcraft Addons.

I’ve met some absolutely brilliant people. But I noticed a similar pattern: many of them are also flat broke. Like broke broke.

I don’t understand how someone can be so tech brilliant but be living almost destitute.

Is it just that most of them are autistic and can’t work in a corporate environment?

I’ve seen the pattern too many times to ignore it as coincidence. Like these people are more brilliant coders than people I’ve met working for big tech companies, but are living on government subsidies and rent assistance.