Marc-André Leclerc Net Worth: Alpinist and Rock Climber
No reliable net worth exists for Marc-André Leclerc. Here is how the Canadian alpinist lived, climbed and died, and why online estimates don't hold up.
- Full name
- Marc-André Leclerc
- Profession
- Alpinist and rock climber
- Born
- October 10, 1992
- Died
- March 5, 2018 (aged 25)
- Birthplace
- Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Relationship
- In a relationship (Brette Harrington)
- Source of wealth
- Outdoor-gear sponsorship
In this article
No reputable outlet ever published a net worth for Marc-André Leclerc, the Canadian alpinist who died in Alaska in March 2018 at age 25. The "$2 million to $10 million" range and $340,000 yearly income that appear on older pages have no source, and they do not fit what is known about his life. Leclerc lived simply, made a modest living from outdoor-gear sponsorship, and was described by the makers of the documentary The Alpinist as nomadic, without a phone or a car.
What was Marc-André Leclerc's net worth?
There is no reliable figure. Professional alpinists, even the best in the world, rarely earn large sums: their income usually comes from gear sponsors, occasional speaking or writing, and small film fees. Leclerc was known for avoiding publicity, which limited those opportunities further. The documentary about him was made by Sender Films and Red Bull Media House and released in 2021, three years after his death, so its earnings did not contribute to his wealth during his lifetime.
How he earned a living
Leclerc was a sponsored athlete for Arc'teryx, the Canadian outdoor clothing brand, which published a memorial tribute to him after his death. The previous version of this page also named La Sportiva, Maxim Ropes and SMM as sponsors; we could not confirm those relationships in the sources reviewed. Sponsorship contracts for climbers are private, and no source reports what he was paid.
The promotional material for The Alpinist described him as a climber who worked alone and far from the spotlight, with no cameras and no rope, who was reluctant even to let a film crew follow him. That approach meant fewer commercial deals than more media-friendly climbers attract.
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Early life and family
Leclerc was born on October 10, 1992, in Nanaimo, British Columbia, to Michelle Kuipers and Serge Leclerc. He had an older sister, Bridgid-Anne Dunning, and a younger brother, Kellyn Leclerc. At eight his grandfather gave him Chris Bonington's book Quest for Adventure, and at nine he first climbed on an indoor wall in a shopping mall in Coquitlam. He then joined Project Climbing, a gym in Abbotsford.
In 2005 his family moved to Agassiz, near the Cascade Range, where he taught himself to climb, often riding his bike to the Harrison Bluffs and camping there alone. At 15 his mother gave him Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, which led him to join the British Columbia Mountaineering Club. He won age-group competitions, including the Canadian Nationals in 2005.
Climbing career
Leclerc became best known for solo ascents of major alpine and ice routes, often in winter. Selected climbs listed by Wikipedia:
| Year | Climb |
|---|---|
| 2013 | First free ascent of The Temptation of St Anthony, Squamish |
| 2014 | Free-solo triple link-up on Mount Slesse in about 12 hours |
| 2015 | First solo ascent of The Corkscrew on Cerro Torre, Patagonia |
| 2015 | Free ascent of the Muir Wall on El Capitan |
| 2016 | First solo of Infinite Patience on Mount Robson's Emperor Face |
| 2016 | First winter solo of Torre Egger, Patagonia |
| 2018 | First ascent of the north face of the Main Tower, Mendenhall Towers, Alaska |
Argentine guide Rolando Garibotti called his Corkscrew solo by far the hardest route ever soloed on Cerro Torre. Note that the old version of this page dated that climb to 2005; it happened on February 21, 2015.
Relationship
Leclerc was not married. He lived in Squamish, British Columbia, with his girlfriend Brette Harrington, also an accomplished rock climber and alpinist. They met in Squamish in 2012, and in 2016 they established a new route, Hidden Dragon, on the Chinese Puzzle Wall opposite Mount Slesse.
Death
On March 5, 2018, Leclerc and climbing partner Ryan Johnson reached the summit of the Mendenhall Towers near Juneau, Alaska, by a new route on the north face. They were due back at base camp by March 7 but never returned. Bad weather delayed the Juneau Mountain Rescue search for four days; searchers then found ropes at the base of the descent route, suggesting the pair were hit by an avalanche, rockfall or a collapsing cornice. Their bodies were never recovered.
Legacy: The Alpinist
The Alpinist, directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen, premiered as an official selection at the 2020 Telluride and SXSW film festivals and was released in 2021. It features Harrington, Alex Honnold, Reinhold Messner and Barry Blanchard and follows Mortimer's attempts to keep up with an elusive subject.
Age, height and weight
Leclerc was 25 when he died. No reliable source gives his height or weight; the earlier figures (5 feet 11 inches, 69 kg) had no source and were removed.
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Why there is no reliable figure
Leclerc never disclosed his earnings, his sponsorship terms were private, and he left no reported estate. Everything known about his lifestyle points to modest means, which is why this page does not repeat the invented multimillion-dollar estimates.
Frequently asked questions
What was Marc-André Leclerc's net worth?
No reputable outlet published a net worth for Marc-André Leclerc, and the $2 million to $10 million range seen online has no source. He was a sponsored Arc'teryx athlete who lived simply; the makers of The Alpinist described him as nomadic, without a phone or car.
What was Marc-André Leclerc's monthly and annual income?
His income was never disclosed. Claims of $31,000 a month and $340,000 a year had no source. Professional alpinists typically earn modest amounts from gear sponsors, and Leclerc avoided the publicity that brings bigger deals.
How old was Marc-André Leclerc when he died?
Marc-André Leclerc was 25 when he died. He was born on October 10, 1992, in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and died on March 5, 2018, while descending the Mendenhall Towers near Juneau, Alaska, with Ryan Johnson.
How did Marc-André Leclerc die?
On March 5, 2018, Leclerc and Ryan Johnson reached the summit of the Mendenhall Towers in Alaska by a new north-face route but never returned. Searchers found ropes at the base of the descent route, suggesting an avalanche, rockfall or cornice collapse. Their bodies were never recovered.
Who was Marc-André Leclerc's girlfriend?
Leclerc's partner was Brette Harrington, a rock climber and alpinist. They met in Squamish, British Columbia, in 2012, lived there together, and in 2016 established the route Hidden Dragon near Mount Slesse. She appears in the documentary The Alpinist.
What is The Alpinist about?
The Alpinist is a 2021 documentary by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen about Leclerc's solo climbs, including his 2016 winter solo of Torre Egger in Patagonia. It was an official selection of the 2020 Telluride and SXSW festivals and features Alex Honnold and Reinhold Messner.
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc-Andr%C3%A9_Leclerc
- Confusions and Connections (film release notes): https://coyotepr.uk/films/who-is-the-alpinist/
