[nullflux]

Because he does two things really well that build huge brands around specific people:

1. Acts like he knows everything and acts like a polarizing, arrogant ass

(I've never met him, so who knows if he actually is an arrogant ass. The majority of people I have met that act like that seem not to be IRL. It's often a persona.)

2. Consistently writes blog posts that cause a lot of controversy (e.g. get people fired, give more famous people you know a spotlight to write content for you, etc.)

I'm not bashing Curtis with the above, even though my tone seems pejorative. It's just true, and it's the same way most political talking heads and radio personalities work. Curtis is basically something like the Howard Stern of the YC set.