Jordan Belfort Net Worth

Jordan Belfort, the infamous former stockbroker, convicted felon, and author, has a net worth of negative $100 million. While he is widely known as “The Wolf of Wall Street,” the nickname was never actually used during his financial career but was self-proclaimed while writing his memoir in prison. His life story, filled with high-stakes fraud, extravagant wealth, and legal troubles, was dramatized in the 2013 Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Jordan Belfort Net Worth	-$100 Million
Date of Birth	Jul 9, 1962
Place of Birth	The Bronx
Nationality	American
Profession	Motivational speaker, Entrepreneur, Author, Film Producer, Screenwriter

Table of Contents

Stratton Oakmont

Between 1989 and 1996, Belfort ran Stratton Oakmont, a brokerage firm that specialized in pump-and-dump schemes, defrauding investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars. His company, which managed over $1 billion in assets at its peak, was notorious for using high-pressure sales tactics to manipulate stock prices. In 1999, Belfort and his business partner, Danny Porush, were indicted for securities fraud and money laundering. After pleading guilty, he agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Prison Sentence

Belfort was sentenced to four years in prison but served only 22 months before his release in 2008. As part of his sentencing, he was ordered to pay back $110 million in restitution to 1,513 victims. Initially, he was required to pay 50% of his gross income toward this debt. However, in 2013, the government adjusted the agreement to a minimum of $10,000 per month for life.

Despite earning millions from his books, speaking engagements, and consulting work, he has only repaid around $13–14 million—most of which came from assets seized at sentencing. Reports indicate that he has attempted to avoid paying restitution, prompting legal battles over his earnings.

The Real Origin of the “Wolf of Wall Street” Nickname

Belfort never carried the title The Wolf of Wall Street while he was running Stratton Oakmont. The moniker was not bestowed upon him by Wall Street professionals but was something he created himself while writing his memoir in prison. The 1991 Forbes article about him was titled Steaks, Stocks – What’s the Difference?, highlighting his background selling meat and seafood before moving into stock trading. The piece described him as a “twisted Robin Hood” who took from the rich and gave to himself, but never referred to him as a “wolf.”

Lavish Lifestyle

During his years at Stratton Oakmont, Belfort was known for his extravagant lifestyle, fueled by drugs, fast cars, and luxury yachts. He famously owned the yacht Nadine, which was originally built for fashion designer Coco Chanel but sank in 1996 off the coast of Sardinia after he ignored the captain’s warning about dangerous weather.

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His personal life has been just as tumultuous. Belfort divorced his first wife, Denise Lombardo, in 1991. He later married British model Nadine Caridi, with whom he had two children, but their marriage ended in 2005 after allegations of domestic violence, reportedly fueled by his drug addiction. He was later married to Anne Koppe, whom he divorced in 2020.

Motivational Speaking

Since his release from prison, Belfort has reinvented himself as a motivational speaker, offering sales training and business ethics seminars. However, his reputation remains controversial, with critics arguing that he profits from his past crimes while continuing to evade full restitution. His speaking fees range from $30,000 to $75,000 per engagement, while his sales training seminars cost upwards of $80,000.

Book and Film Adaptations

Belfort authored The Wolf of Wall Street (2007) and Catching the Wolf of Wall Street (2009), which have been translated into multiple languages. His life story was adapted into the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, produced by Red Granite Pictures—ironically, a company later implicated in an international corruption scandal. In 2017, he published Way of the Wolf: Become a Master Closer with Straight Line Selling, a sales strategy book.

Long Island Mansion and Asset Seizures

Belfort once owned a 9,000-square-foot mansion in Old Brookville, New York, which he purchased for $5.775 million in 1992. After his conviction, the federal government seized the property and sold it in 2001 for $2.53 million to help repay his victims. Over the years, the mansion’s price fluctuated in the market, eventually selling in 2018 for $2.4 million.