I don't think Steve Fossett really needs any more trophies and he knows he beat the record as well as any one else trying for it. I would not have payed the money either. I guess Steve Fossett can just make his own trophie for a lot less than 30K.
Why should you even have to pay to go for the JV trophie?
What does the money go for and who gets it? If you don't beat the record do you get your money back? What do you get for paying the fee?