Eric Sprott

Early life and education

Eric Sprott was born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1944, growing up in the nation's capital during the post-war economic boom. This period influenced his early perspectives on money and economic cycles, while a relatively modest upbringing instilled a sense of frugality and skepticism toward financial excess. He pursued higher education at Carleton University in Ottawa, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1965. The university's business curriculum provided him with a strong foundation in accounting and financial analysis, which he followed by earning the professional designation of Chartered Accountant. Carleton University later honoured Sprott with an Honorary Doctorate, recognizing his career achievements and philanthropic impact. In 2001, following a $10 million donation from Sprott, the university renamed its business faculty the Sprott School of Business.

Career beginnings at Merrill Lynch

After qualifying as a chartered accountant, Eric Sprott began his career in finance as a research analyst at Merrill Lynch in 1968. His work there focused on securities analysis with a growing emphasis on natural resources and commodities, areas that would define his future investment focus. During this early period, he borrowed $50,000 from his girlfriend's father to invest in the stock market, promising a 10 percent return within a year. This investment proved successful and helped establish his early reputation for market acumen. He left Merrill Lynch in 1970 to join the firm Loewen Ondaatje McCutcheon, where he further deepened his expertise in resource equities, particularly junior mining stocks. This experience with companies largely ignored by mainstream Bay Street analysts prepared him to eventually launch his own venture.

Founding and growth of Sprott Securities

In 1981, Eric Sprott founded Sprott Securities Inc., a Toronto-based brokerage firm that carved out a niche by focusing on small-cap value equities and natural resource stocks overlooked by larger financial institutions. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the firm became a prominent financier for junior mining companies and resource exploration projects. It played a key role in bringing many early-stage gold, silver and base-metal companies to the attention of both institutional and retail investors. In 1997, Sprott expanded the firm's offerings by launching the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, marking an early foray into asset management. The firm's success culminated in 2001 when Sprott sold the brokerage business to its employees, with the transaction completed in 2002 and the entity renamed Cormark Securities Inc. Sprott and his partners retained the firm's asset management operations as a separate business, setting the stage for its next phase of growth.

Leadership at Sprott Asset Management and Sprott Inc.

The retained asset management business was organized as Sprott Asset Management LP, which later became the core of the publicly traded firm Sprott Inc. Sprott served as chairman of Sprott Inc. from 2010 until May 2017, guiding the firm's strategic focus on precious metals and natural resource investments. He gained widespread attention for advising investors to buy gold ahead of the 2008 financial crisis, a prescient call as the metal's price later rallied to new all-time highs. True to his reputation as a long-time gold bull, Sprott has stated that approximately 90 percent of his personal liquid assets, excluding his shares in Sprott Inc., are held in gold, silver and related mining equities. Under his influence, the firm launched specialized investment vehicles such as the Sprott Molybdenum Participation Corporation, a commodity hedge fund listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in April 2007 under the ticker MLY.

Philanthropy and the Sprott Foundation

Eric Sprott's philanthropic impact is channeled primarily through the Sprott Foundation, which has contributed more than $337 million to various causes. His charitable giving reflects a commitment to leveraging wealth for broad societal benefit, complementing his career in finance. A landmark donation was the $10 million gift to Carleton University in 2001, which led to the renaming of its business school in his honour. This contribution supports business education and highlights the value he places on his academic foundation. The scale and consistency of his philanthropy have made the Sprott Foundation a significant force in Canadian charitable circles. His major philanthropic contributions and recognitions include a total of over $337 million in charitable contributions through the Sprott Foundation and a specific $10 million donation to Carleton University in 2001 that created the Sprott School of Business.

Eric Sprott is a Member of the Order of Canada. He has been inducted into the Investment Industry Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame. His charitable contributions, primarily through the Sprott Foundation, exceed 337 million dollars.

• Founding of Sprott Securities Inc. in 1981.
• Launch of the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund in 1997.
• Sale of Sprott Securities to employees and its renaming to Cormark Securities Inc. in 2001/2002.
• Listing of the Sprott Molybdenum Participation Corporation on the Toronto Stock Exchange in April 2007.
• Service as Chairman of Sprott Inc. from 2010 to May 2017.
• Over $337 million in total charitable contributions through the Sprott Foundation.
• Appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada.
• Induction into the Investment Industry Hall of Fame and the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.

Personal life and investment philosophy

Eric Sprott was married to Vizma Sprott, with whom he had two children, Juliana Haver and Larisa Sprott. His family life remained largely private, consistent with his focus on business and philanthropy. Vizma Sprott died on February 11, 2025. Sprott's personal investment philosophy, characterized by a high concentration in precious metals, is a direct reflection of the contrarian and skeptical worldview he developed early in life. He earned the nickname "Gold Bull" for his decades-long public advocacy for gold and silver as essential holdings, a stance he maintained even when such assets were out of favour with the mainstream financial community. His approach involves a significant concentration of personal capital, with reports indicating about 90 percent of his liquid assets are in gold, silver and mining equities. This high-conviction strategy influenced the entire direction of Sprott Inc., steering it toward specialization in resource-based asset management. His early and vocal warnings before the 2008 financial crisis, followed by the subsequent surge in gold prices, cemented his reputation as a prescient and influential voice in the investment world.

Notable investments and financial products

Throughout his career, Eric Sprott has been associated with specific investments and financial products that reflect his core investment thesis. His personal portfolio is famously concentrated, with an estimated 90 percent of his liquid net worth held in physical gold and silver and shares of mining companies. He was an early and prominent financier for numerous junior mining firms, providing crucial capital for exploration and development in the resource sector. The asset management firms he founded created several notable funds dedicated to his investment themes.

• The Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, launched in 1997.
• The Sprott Molybdenum Participation Corporation, a dedicated commodity fund listed in April 2007 (TSX: MLY).
• Investments in a wide array of junior mining companies involved in gold, silver and base metals.
• Advocacy for physical gold ownership before the 2008 financial crisis.

His firm, Sprott Inc., is a publicly traded asset management firm focused on precious metals and natural resource investments. The firm has approximately 50 billion US dollars in assets under management. Sprott is known for his investments in gold and mining companies. He has been a prominent financier of junior mining firms. His personal portfolio has been reported to hold approximately 90 percent of his liquid assets in gold, silver, and related mining equities.

Questions about Eric Sprott

What is Eric Sprott's net worth?

Eric Sprott's exact net worth is not publicly disclosed in detail. However, his wealth is significantly tied to his ownership in Sprott Inc., the asset management firm he founded, which oversees approximately US$50 billion in assets. He has also reported that around 90 percent of his personal liquid assets, excluding his Sprott Inc. shares, are invested in gold, silver and mining company equities. His substantial philanthropic contributions, which exceed $337 million, further indicate a considerable personal fortune accumulated through his successful investment career.

What did Eric Sprott study in university?

Eric Sprott attended Carleton University in Ottawa, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree, graduating in 1965. His studies provided a strong grounding in accounting and financial analysis. Following his degree, he pursued and obtained the professional designation of Chartered Accountant. Carleton University later recognized his extraordinary career and philanthropic contributions by awarding him an Honorary Doctorate and, in 2001, renaming its business faculty the Sprott School of Business following a major donation.

What is the Sprott Foundation?

The Sprott Foundation is the primary vehicle for Eric Sprott's philanthropic activities, through which he has donated more than $337 million to various charitable causes. It supports a wide range of initiatives, reflecting his commitment to leveraging wealth for public benefit. A notable example of its work is a $10 million donation to Carleton University, which led to the establishment of the Sprott School of Business. The foundation's substantial contributions have made it a significant entity in Canadian philanthropy.

Why is Eric Sprott called the 'Gold Bull'?

Eric Sprott earned the nickname 'Gold Bull' due to his long-standing bullish stance on gold and other precious metals. He has been a vocal contrarian advocate for holding gold, especially as a hedge against economic uncertainty and monetary inflation. His personal investment strategy reflects this, with approximately 90 percent of his liquid assets reportedly held in gold, silver and mining stocks. His prescient advice to buy gold before the 2008 financial crisis, which was followed by a major price rally, solidified this reputation in the investment community.

What honours has Eric Sprott received?

Eric Sprott has received several of Canada's highest honours for his contributions to finance and philanthropy. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his impact. The investment industry has inducted him into the Investment Industry Hall of Fame, while the mining sector has honoured him with induction into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame. Carleton University awarded him an Honorary Doctorate for his career achievements and philanthropic legacy, which includes the naming of the Sprott School of Business.

Is Eric Sprott still involved with Sprott Inc.?

Eric Sprott served as the chairman of Sprott Inc. from 2010 until May 2017. He founded the original Sprott Securities in 1981, which evolved into the asset management firm Sprott Inc. While he stepped down from the chairman role, his legacy as the founder endures. The firm, which he helped build, remains a major player in precious metals and natural resource investments. Sprott Inc. manages approximately US$50 billion in assets, a sign of the foundation he established. His personal investment philosophy, heavily focused on gold and silver, continues to be associated with the firm's public identity.

Sources and further reading

• Eric Sprott (Wikipedia)
• Eric Sprott: Increasing Access to Education and Opportunity ... (sprott.carleton.ca)
• About Us (sprott.com)
• Eric Sprott - 2025 (pdac.ca)
• Staff & Board, The Sprott Foundation (sprottfoundation.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-06.