Here's a POV.

Imagine yourself sitting in a room with 50 other people working on something as a group. What are you doing? Everyone in the room is a great 3d artist/designer. Nobody is saying oooo. Ahhhh. Ooohhh. At your work...

"Celebrity" artist are usually presented to you in a (not up front) marketing campaign. We all say "wow" but he designs for a gaming house or owns the marketing company and is promoting his own showcase.

I will use the NHL as an analogy. There are millions of people with aspirations every year to be there. There are something around 750 seats at the big show. :o

How you get there has many aspects other that being really good.

Your goal can't be "a 3d artist making good money". You must define it on a more finite level. "Where do you want to work and doing what while there" is a good start.