I actually have an idea to start my own consulting position in a couple of years, but I don't care to state the basics of the business model, for obvious reasons. For now, I'm sticking with my current role as the key employee for my account - the only person who fully understands who the entire process works.
Being a consultant is a start, but you are limited in your wages by the amount of hours you can personally work.
Get a good partner (take your time), make a product.
Sell it. Hire some people.
I made my most money by buying, collecting, and building up small businesses, keeping the books clean, then becoming a major pain in the ass to large public companies who buy me to get rid of the competition.
Repeat.