Turr: "...why would you risk scorn and ridicule from the general public for being so greedy..."

Because when you are so greedy, scorn and ridicule are not part of your moral fiber, hence you simply do not care....and I really mean, "simply do not care" - - - which, when it is witnessed by most of us, is nearly impossible for us to believe or comprehend.

That's what makes truly ruthless people so dangerous; the vast majority never expect them to be so sneaky/uncaring/greedy that the majority can be easily taken advantage of. In the world of ruthless people, the personal profit at the end truly trumps any heinous means used to get there. Doing harm to others along the way is merely collateral damage; it's not a "bad" thing to do because they have no conscience.