Jordan Belfort’s Net Worth is $125 Million
So many of you have seen Leo DiCaprio in the film The Wolf of Wall Street, but how much do you know about the real “wolf,” Jordan Belfort? He rolled up from nothing, shot to the stars on Wall Street, and then came crashing right back down again. But there’s more to his story. As of now, this author, motivational speaker, and “retired” stockbroker bounced back with a net worth of $125million.
You’re probably wondering how he managed such a feat. The man is a natural-born hustler, cooking up his own investment firm, Stratton Oakmont, and rolling in millions (all illegally, mind you) by scamming his investors. Belfort’s financial saga makes for a fascinating read—not only how he made those dodgy millions but the subsequent jail time and, perhaps more impressively, how he bounced back, came out the other side, and spun his dark past into a whole new drive to win big.
| Name | Jordan Ross Belfort |
| Profession | Author, Motivational Speaker, Former Stockbroker |
| Net Worth | $125 Million (as of July 21, 2023) |
| Birthplace | The Bronx, New York, USA |
| Birthday | July 9, 1962 (Cancer) |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft. 7 in. (170 cm) |
| Relationship status | In a Relationship with Cristina Invernizzi (as of 2021) |
From Humble Beginnings to Wall Street Powerhouse
Born and bred in The Bronx, New York, on July 9, 1962, Jordan Belfort proved from an early age that he had a knack for the hustle. He started off running a seafood and meat operation back in the ’80s. Granted, in retrospect, he perhaps bit off more than he could chew and the business crumbled due to unsustainable growth but that did not dampen his resolve. Next stop: Wall Street.
He landed there in 1987, nabbing his first job at LF Rothschild, where he was tasked with getting prospective clients on the phone, at which point Jordan would hand over the phone to the senior staff who would secure the deal. Though the work was tedious, Belfort was hooked. The finance world had lit a spark in him that was on the verge of becoming a bonfire.
In 1989, Belfort decided to carve out a place for himself in the Wall Street jungle. He kicked off Stratton Oakmont, his own investment business that rapidly became a big deal. Not all press was good press though. Simply put, Stratton Oakmont made money by defrauding investors. With his ill-gotten gains, Jordan lived the high life—a mix of mega dollars and mega drama.
But life on top didn’t last. Around 1999, Belfort was nabbed for securities fraud and money laundering—the bubble had finally burst. His Wall Street thrill ride came to a crashing halt. Even when faced with prison time, Belfort wasn’t about to roll over. He switched gears and transformed himself into an author and motivational speaker, a gig he’s still into today.
Journey to a Fortune: Belfort’s Earnings from His Days on Wall Street
Jordan Belfort made a fortune as a high-rolling stockbroker. His brainchild, Stratton Oakmont, was a real money-spinner, handing out millions in revenue like candy. Belfort—holding more than half of Stratton’s equity—wasn’t shy about pocketing $3 million annually. The firm’s total commission revenues were through the roof, with an expected sum of $30 million in sight.
But with Belfort’s mountain of wealth came a major downfall. His con game at Stratton Oakmont snowballed into a criminal conviction for securities fraud and money laundering. By 2003, he was sentenced to four years in jail, although he got out in 22 months. One of the rulings was that he had to pay back a headline-grabbing $110.4 million to his swindle victims.
Even though he hit rock bottom, Belfort managed to bounce back. Making the most out of his tainted experience, he transformed himself into a motivational speaker and a celebrated author. His bestselling memoirs, The Wolf of Wall Street and Catching the Wolf of Wall Street, spun his scandalous past into a profitable new gig and were even adapted into the blockbuster film mentioned above. These ventures have kept his wealth growing, showing us all that his money skills can handle a little rough weather.
Building Wealth Beyond Wall Street
Just when the Wall Street gig was up for Belfort, he didn’t miss a beat. He saw other goldmines for cash flow and hopped on board. The move turned his life around after his jail term and piled up all that dough.
One of the big bucks for Belfort was his own wild story, The Wolf of Wall Street. Writing this page-turner didn’t just deliver a paycheck, it also shot him to global fame. To give you the figures, Red Granite Productions grabbed the movie rights for the book for $1.045 million, with Belfort pocketing $940,500 out of the deal. Plus, he was set to bank $125,000 when cameras started rolling, and another $125,000 when the movie hit the big screen. However, Mr. Wolf has since made it clear that he isn’t collecting any more cash from either the film or his books.
For a man who’s seen some extreme financial ups and downs, Belfort is flipping his past into a rewarding gig as a motivational speaker. Offering hard-hitting advice on sales and persuasive techniques, this is a steady paycheck and an amazing comeback story from a self-proclaimed fraudster to a straight-up coach.
In an exciting shift, Belfort has dipped his toes into the investment world. He’s put his money in a bunch of start-ups like a blockchain gaming platform, OneTo11, and a crypto wallet and NFT startup, Squirrel Technologies. His investment portfolio, Aventus Ventures, is valued at a jaw-dropping $100+ million. Spreading his wealth around different industries, Belfort is showing us how to grow wealth wisely.
Extravagance and Luxury: Belfort’s Notable Possessions and Charitable Endeavors
Jordan Belfort clearly knows how to roll in luxury—almost singlehandedly redefining what it means to pamper oneself. He doesn’t just throw his cash at startups; Belfort also spends countless dollars on dazzling personal toys.
In terms of real estate, he once had a swanky pad in Old Brookville, Long Island. The Feds seized it, however, to pay off some of the massive $110 million he owes to his fraud victims. But he hasn’t let his taste for mouth-watering properties turn sour. He also has places in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, California, plus a $27-million home in New York.
His garage is like a wonderland for car enthusiasts. We’re talking Mercedes-AMG GT R, Ferrari 488 GTB, Lamborghini Countach, Audi R8, Mercedes G63 AMG, and a Range Rover SV Autobiography.
Belfort’s luxe lifestyle also reached the high seas. He once had a fancy yacht named Nadine—originally intended for fashion queen Coco Chanel. Unfortunately, a storm sunk the boat in the Mediterranean.
It’s worth mentioning that Belfort does give back to the community. He’s done some charity in South African townships and even pledged to donate all his tour profits in the U.S. to repay his investors. Yes, Belfort is trying to rectify the damage his exploits have done.
Breaking the Ice: Personal Life of Jordan Belfort
Beyond business life, Belfort’s love life has been something our of a soap opera, having been married three times. First he called Denise Lombardo his wife. They married in 1985 when he was hustling through a rough patch. The marriage lasted until 1991, thanks to Belfort’s dalliance with Nadine Caridi, his second wife-to-be. Nadine, a.k.a. Nadine Macaluso and he said ‘I do’ in 1991; however, the union broke down in 1998. Belfort then spent about 12 years with Anne Koppe before they, too, called it quits. As of September 2021, he’s now enjoying the company of model Cristina Invernizzi.
Beyond the love-life drama, he’s also a proud dad of Chandler and Carter Belfort, whom he welcomed with Nadine. Chandler is a mental health counselor, and Carter’s double-hatting as a marketing and management whiz kid and an up-and-coming hip-hop artist, showing they’ve taken their own routes far from Dad’s footprints.
Then there’s Belfort’s friend, none other than A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio! Yep, Leo portrayed him in the blockbuster, The Wolf of Wall Street, highlighting Belfort’s mad ride on Wall Street and the subsequent tumble from the top. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film blasted Belfort’s story onto the big screen, grabbing the world’s attention.
The Fall of a Titan: Belfort’s Legal Troubles and Redemption
If you haven’t been paying attention, this entire article could reside in this section. With his shady Wall Street dealings, Belfort stirred up a whole heap of legal drama, especially with his massive criminal conviction. It all stemmed from his agency Stratton Oakmont, which was swindling investors and manipulating stock prices in the 1990s. When the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigated Belfort, the jig was up.
In 1999, Belfort pleaded guilty to ransacking the market through securities fraud and laundering money but was able to negotiate a reduced sentence by snitching on his partners and workers who participated in his sketchy operations along with him. In 2003, the court hit him with a four-year prison sentence but he only ended up behind bars for 22 months. The $110 million fine, however, stood; as Belfort was ordered to repay those whose money he stole.
So, after ruining his reputation and losing it all, Belfort decided to switch up his game. Today, as a motivational speaker, he’s drawing from his experiences to teach others better. And he’s making a fortune doing so!
