Ah, the good ol' American Dream. I could philosophize on that for ages. We could turn this into a very different discussion...

But to attempt to tackle this in a way that makes a semblance of sense, I'd just say forget about money. Worldbuilding, for me and for most, is a non-profit hobby. You do it for the fun and the joy of doing it, with no expectation of return on investment. The return I get is happiness when I learn someone enjoys something I've created. That's all the profit I need.

Once you throw money out of the equation, perspective changes. How does one steal something you freely give?

I did start this post by suggesting a goal and a basic "product" to shoot for, but don't let that be the motivating factor, just let that be a guidepost to steer the development of your world. The "product" is always simply a way to share the world you've created, not something to be sold and made money off.

Think of worldbuilding as any other hobby, not as a means to an end. One does not go skydiving expecting to have sponsorships from Red Bull and GoPro; one goes skydiving because skydiving is fun.

And besides, even if you absolutely do intend to make money off it, many people have made money by sharing freely first. Tarn Adams, creator of the game Dwarf Fortress, gives his always-in-progress game away for free, yet makes a living off donations. But I think of that as a bonus, not the end goal.