[BroJoeK]

"cotton and tobacco were the USA’s biggest exports before the Civil War, but somehow the North made more money off them than the South did."

Cotton was almost entirely a product of the Deep South, in 1860 its exports totalled about $200 million, or about half of the Deep South's GDP.
Tobacco was a product of mostly Union states, including Kentucky.
In 1860 its exports totalled about $24 million, or roughly 10% of Border states GDP.

As to who, exactly, "made money" off those crops, obviously, everyone who handled or processed them got paid something, as did, for example, the carpenters who built the large estate homes of wealthy Southern planters, and Northerners who manufactured the iron stoves or carpets that went in those mansions.

So, how much money was left over for luxury imports after all the bills were paid, and new slaves "purchased" to expand his operations?
Typically, not very much, if any, and so naturally, we'd expect the great slav-ocrats to seek relief from their obligations by declaring secesdion & war on their creditors.

A clever move, right? Or too clever by half?

[DiogenesLamp]

As to who, exactly, "made money" off those crops, obviously, everyone who handled or processed them got paid something,

Having the government force people to buy your services at excessive rates is very profitable.

We are still seeing this tactic used by modern day liberals too.

(And they still live in Martha's vineyard and the Hamptons.)

[higgmeister]

Tobacco was a product of mostly Union states, including Kentucky.

Kentucky was a Southern State.   I just didn't secede.