Brewing fortune, the real reason Lucious can bribe the Ministry.

[artcase]

No: HPFGUIDX 88480

Art here: 

Going out on a limb to believe conjuring of money or gaining wealth 
through dark magic (which, I am almost certain Lucious did) would 
come with a curse attached. He therefore would want to rid himself 
of such ill-gained wealth as quickly as possible. What better way 
than to "give" Fudge and others (like the wizards on the board of 
Hogwarts, etc.) money to gain their favor. 

Now the sticky part. What happens to the people that have accepted 
his money? I'm envisioning all sorts of nasty and mischievious 
mishaps.