If disappearing and being elusive is the criterion I pick Bill Waterson.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson#After_Calvin_an...
For one, it's distinctive and iconic.
Second, in 2020, it still has an element of social commentary, whereas most "modern art" is abstract BS.
Third, it's not academic wordy social commentary (like some other art aspires to), but something plain folks can appreciate.
So, lots to like.
Also he's more of an unusual case because of his fluent use of the social media combined with the anonymity. Without social media he wouldn't be as influential as he is today.
Also he probably didn't start out thinking "Alright I'm gonna become an artist and make tons of money with my art!", he probably started doing it for his own personal pleasure, and it just took off. If someone were to start out with the goal of making money as artist, a graffiti artist would be the last on his mind. He was probably either financially independent already, or had a real job and was doing graffiti as a "side project" when he started out.
You say that, but Ludo is a well known artist who took to street art to enhance his profile and has had large commissions in public places, magazines and concerts and live events.
http://thisisludo.com/category/news/
I don't think Banksy's model is the only way, but it has worked well for him given his approach for social critiques and the mystique is just his form of branding to create exclusivity to his work(s). He even admits to Blek Le Rat's work being comprable, if not better, to his own in the quote above.
His work is highly sought out because he is as elusive as a public artist can be, giving him an allure and a sense of mystique. Whereas his predecessors were often starving artists, who often fall victim to alcohol/drug abuse, whose work is seldom appreciated until they die. Lest they 'made it' and were ordained by Church or State, that is.
I'd say beyond just artistic freedom, it also seems to give them a monetary incentive to operate this way.
I don't know enough about the Art World to comment on the works themselves, but given the amount of talent seen on just deviant art since its inception, I hope most follow this model and we can see more artists get recognized for their work.
This does remind me of a series I saw that was quite moving on the BBC that I wish they'd reboot on modern artists, its called the Power of Art:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QwQ2kUQDnY
Sidenote: That's my favorite episode (Jacques-Louis David) of the series, and its worth the entire watch: but @41:14 onward it shows what Art and Artists is often reduced to when control rests in the hands of the aforementioned 'dignitaries.'