Perhaps this is like a sci-fi story setting. the controllers trying to find the right people, and the right number for a long isolated, cut-off from everything they know, group of people to send on a very long one way voyage to the second star on the left and straight on til tomorrow. type scenario.
More probable though is it is like you said, just pure unadulterated greed.
It is greed - it is insane. While no fan of government initiatives, I would far rather the trillions spent on increasing general wellbeing, subsidizing exercise, incentivizing health - that corona at this point.