without that one key element his dream will only and forever remain a dream
The investment capital and research are essential elements, too. The takeaway isn't that Mustache Asshole Guy deserves nothing. The takeaway is that he should get paid in accordance with whatever actual work he did developing the marketing plan, whoever built the machinery should get paid in accordance with the actual work that went into that, and the laborer on the line working the machine should get paid in accordance with the work he's doing. What shouldn't happen is Mustache Asshole Guy getting to take other laborers' hard-earned money just because (somehow, magically, without any explanation) he was sitting on a boatload of capital to begin with.
The investment capital and research are essential elements, too. The takeaway isn't that Mustache Asshole Guy deserves nothing. The takeaway is that he should get paid in accordance with whatever actual work he did developing the marketing plan, whoever built the machinery should get paid in accordance with the actual work that went into that, and the laborer on the line working the machine should get paid in accordance with the work he's doing. What shouldn't happen is Mustache Asshole Guy getting to take other laborers' hard-earned money just because (somehow, magically, without any explanation) he was sitting on a boatload of capital to begin with.
Realistically what actually happens is all 4 panels is a boss explaining what others workers came up with.