The article claims that they didn't care about the possible profits of Twitter.
These investors would have either made money trough indirect means (keeping the eyes of the world off their shady stuff), or would use it to get a lot more power (think of misinformation strengthening their regimes) and many other tactics.
When these big boys play this game, there often isn't a 1:1 relation.
I don’t think people understand that dictators and even business owners who operate under authoritarian regimes may have a lot of wealth on paper. But everything including their freedom and their lives can be taken away very easily. The wealth itself means very little, in that environment, it’s power that matters.
Spending obscene amounts to accomplish a goal, gain power or to hoard a fraction of your wealth overseas where it can’t be touched or taken away is what matters.