He 'profited by' his experience/mistake. [=he learned something useful from his experience/mistake]
The book can be read with 'profit' by anyone who wants to understand how the system works.
We sold the house 'at a profit'. [=we made a profit when we sold our house]
(..) ...on the outside, I was an honest man, straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook. Ever bother you? I don't run the scams. I just process the profits. A fine line, maybe... ...but I also built that library... ...and used it to help guys get their high school diploma. (..)1994 The Shawshank Redemption