Can fusion be profitable?

Can fusion really be a viable and profitable source of energy? It's been researched for decades with no clear breakthrough yet. With the high costs of research and development, as well as the complexity of controlling and sustaining fusion reactions, is it really worth the investment? Could we see a return on that investment in the NEAR future, or is fusion simply a pipe dream that will never live up to its potential? Let's take a closer look at the current state of fusion research and see if there's any evidence to suggest that it could eventually become a profitable and reliable energy source.