Note that it set the terrible precedent of the President pardoning high level crimes.
But Reagan did not put any money in his pocket. Other than a set of snow tires, Lt.Col Oliver North did not take any money for himself.
It makes it better, somehow, not for money to be the motive. Or maybe it makes it worse.
Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment for political corruption.
Reagan colluded with Iran to prevent the release of hostages during Carter's re-election campaign and later sold them weapons to bypass congressional oversight.
These are just a couple well known examples at the presidential level, I am sure that for every one we know about there are dozens if hundreds of similar examples.
Go further down the scale to the congressional, state, city, and municipal levels and you encounter even pettier levels of corruption where you can buy votes for 5 figure construction contracts or just simple cash handoffs.