(And I'll admit I can't help thinking of him as the richest man in town. Working from home as member of some hugely successful Father & Son team to boot.)
What he should do is split the forum so he can load with ads or charge a "cover" for threads like Bikini-clad Babe Sick of shaking it with Santa ... wants a Nice Boy from Free Republic and make money off the FReeper rec room and bar where there would be no copyright issues associated with the posting of vanities and such that run over 700 posts.
Which I guess makes it your idea.
Which means you should get the credit.
Which means you should be rich in a perfect world... ;-)