Oh and of course, the person with such abilities
that doesn't take advantage of them to make money
doesn't deserve them (with the exception of the
multitalented who leverages a 'better' skill or
the person leveraging those skills in a risk
filled endeavor for larger profits).
Is he a complete waste because he declined to take the prize money for his proofs?
If your life's work is math, carpentry, or the
trombone, so be it. But coasting through life
doing odd jobs to get by when you have a skill
in which you're proficient is an insult to the
rest of the people that don't share it.
I think sp4rki's point is that it's a waste if not taking/making the money means that you have less time to do whatever it is you're good at. E.g. the artist who could make money from it but chooses not to, and as a result has to work at the convenience store, and as a result produces less art. Though that last bit is a bit contentious - maybe working at the convenience store is a good source of inspiration for that artist.
But, according to various accounts he's probably not. He quit doing mathematics and just lives with his mother and goes to the movies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Perelman#Withdrawal_fro...