In reply to trigger118:
I think a lot of it is being in the right place at the right time. If you have just done a couple of noteworthy (not necessarily exceptional) routes, and happen to get into a conversation with a company who are for whatever reason looking for another face to represent them, then you have a decent chance, despite the fact that there may well be more talented, unsponsored climbers knocking around.
That said, if you think Steve McClure is a long way ahead of anyone else in the country at the moment with the routes he is doing, and he still works doing route setting, teaching and giving lectures, so even if you get up to 9b I wouldn't count on being able to live solely on climbing
The other option is to get into instructing, I'm a fairly average climber, but I get 20% off at a couple of places, which does make quite a big difference, and have countless free t-shirts, a couple hoodies, a rab softshell, and other odds and ends that I have been given.
If you get up to MIA then I believe you can get DMM gear at trade, and even more benefits.
If you can get a job at somewhere like pyb then you will be working with a load of other climbers, and will have loads of opportunities to get out climbing, while still being able to earn a living.