> how well known he is in the industry.

That is also part of his compensation.

But you can’t eat goodwill.

You can eat the food that is bought with the fees that can be easily gained from speaking and consulting.

Or, phrased differently, from working another job.

Or, phrased differently, he's already doing whatever he's doing, and $20k/month is just one income stream.

I'm a developer who's presented at conferences. I don't consider that "another" job, but rather, part of this job. And I don't have any monthly donation income coming in at all.

A job you could only get by having the reputation in the first place.

That's hardly another job. It's completely based on Vue. I know if I needed an expert on it and he was available that he'd probably be my first choice.