If the video game industry had a hero, Gabe Newell would probably be in the running (and Bobby Kotick would most likely be the villain, but I digress). That's because the gaming community has a fixation with retaining the 'purity' of the industry, and being explicit about the desire to make money is instantly met with resistance.
Newell doesn't have to worry about that at all though, given recent comments to PC Gamer. Y'see, Gabe isn't in it for the money.
"For me, it's always been about opportunities to work with people I really like and respect. And to build stuff. In that sense, as Valve has been more successful, it's brought in an even more talented and stronger group of people for all of us," he explains.
Those of us that use Steam can testify to Newell's claims, as the service is famed for going above and beyond to reach customer satisfaction–it's the type of customer service that only a company that's not in it for the money can provide.