CJ Turcotte says he made his first million at 14. His rule for big rooms: “No fake.”
The Managing Partner of Eagle Feather Capital Partners sat down with Richie Hosein to talk about trust, reading people and why he gives back.
Disclosure: This interview was conducted by Richie Hosein, the founder of 1nfluenc3 Media, which publishes Influence, and produced by 1nfluenc3. Hosein calls Turcotte a friend.
Key Takeaways
- CJ Turcotte is Managing Partner of Eagle Feather Capital Partners. He was born and raised in Akwesasne, in upstate New York.
- By his account, he made his first million at 14 as a professional photographer.
- He says his firm just secured a 45% stake in a mine in Arizona.
- His advice: be honest, respect people and give time and money to a cause.
Christian-Joseph “CJ” Turcotte says he made his first million at 14. He was a professional photographer then, with contracts with The North Face, ASICS and Salomon, by his account.
Today he is Managing Partner of Eagle Feather Capital Partners. He sat down with Richie Hosein (@richiehosein) for an interview produced by 1nfluenc3.
Where he came from. Turcotte was born and raised in Akwesasne, in upstate New York. He told Hosein he lost a lot of money outside real estate in 2008, but did well in real estate. That is his main focus now. He also runs a nonprofit that shelters survivors of human and sex trafficking in Canada and the US, he said.
The deal he’s working on. Asked about the biggest deal of his career, Turcotte said, “I’m working on it right now.” He described it as a private trade with “one of the oldest families on earth.” He did not name the family. He said he met the head of the family through a religious organization.
How he gets in the room. Be humble, honest and clear about where you are going, he said. “No fake, because those guys know everything right away,” he said. “They have the power to do diligence in a way nobody else can.”
Reading people. “I go with the vibe,” Turcotte said. He said he has to be careful about who he works with, especially in his work against trafficking. And he is not afraid to walk away. “Don’t be afraid to lose a deal if you feel the person in front of you is not a good match for you,” he said.
The mine. Turcotte said Eagle Feather just secured 45% ownership of a mine in Arizona. He said the mine has rare earths, including neodymium, which is used in magnets. Influence has not independently verified the deal. On its website, the firm says it works with investors by invitation only.
His advice. For young founders: “Respect the money. Respect who is in front of you.” If you don’t have money to give, he said, give time. At his lowest points, he turns to sports and meditation to “reconnect with your roots.” His last word: “Just be yourself, be respectful, and give time and money to a cause of your choice. It’s going to be a multiplier.”
This is an interview, not financial advice.
The full interview runs as a video on @1nfluenc3media.Watch on Instagram →
Sources
- Richie Hosein, interview with CJ Turcotte, produced by 1nfluenc3, Oct 2026.
- Eagle Feather Capital Partners, firm website, accessed Oct 29, 2026. Link
- CJ Turcotte, LinkedIn profile. Link
Photo credit: Still from the Influence interview video, produced by 1nfluenc3. Converted to B&W, cropped, text added.
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