It's true. He bet fellow science fiction writer Philip K. Dick that he would start a religion in order to become rich and famous.

But he messed up - he had forgotten that he was already rich and famous as a prolific writer and author of Dianetics.

Not only that but he became brainwashed by his own religion and spent 16 hours per day engaged in research and development. He was even a victim of extortion and donated all his money to Scientology.