Not include prototypes? Why place that restriction on it? I read the other day about a woman who invented and prototyped a bra for use with backless dresses. She sold the idea (all rights to the idea) to one of the bigger bra manufacturers and stands to make a lot of money. Does the fact that she put together a prototype from spare bra parts matter? They didn't give her money for the prototype.

What about people who patent ideas and then either sell the patent to an IP holding company or collect money from violators? That, to me, is an example of generating wealth from the idea and not the execution (unless you consider the act of filing for a patent a form of execution). If you allow patent holders, then you can easily find documented examples if you look for them.