Jordan Belfort was a renowned stockholder when everything came crashing down. How did he make his fortune, and what caused him to lose it?
In this article, I uncover Jordan Belfort’s net worth and downfall. Plus, discover how he turned his life around after his release from prison!
Who Is Jordan Belfort?
Jordan Belfort is an American stockholder, entrepreneur, and author. You may best him for his memoir titled The Wolf of Wall Street, which got adapted into a movie.
The multi-millionaire came from humble beginnings. He was born in 1962 in Queens, New York, and used to sell Italian ice desserts as a kid. This small venture led him to earn enough money for college.
However, he soon quit the course once he got into the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. The dean warned students on the first day that dentistry wasn’t the path to financial success.
Because of this, Jordan Belfort decided to start a business instead. He went door-to-door, selling meat and seafood. Sadly, this business would fail, and Belfort filed for bankruptcy at 26.
Jordan Belfort’s Rise
At 30, Jordan Belfort founded Stratton Oakmont, an over-the-counter brokerage house. This company would later become one of the most influential organizations in Wall Street history!
Through Stratton Oakmont, Belfort started earning over $50 million a year. He employed 1,000 stockbrokers and raised $1.5 billion from scratch. In addition, he helped dozens of companies become million-dollar industries.
Jordan Belfort’s Peak Net Worth
According to CEO Review Magazine, Jordan Belfort’s net worth of $400 million peaked in 1998. During this time, he managed close to $1 billion in investments through his firm.
He owned a dozen residential properties, three yachts, and nine sports cars. On top of this, he had stocks in Apple, Visa, Walmart, and FedEx.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get all of this money through legal means.
Behind the scenes, Belfort was running a pump-and-dump scheme. He did this by inflating the price of stocks through fake recommendations.
Belfort’s firm pressured investors to invest in highly speculative securities.
This caught the attention of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Eventually, he got caught stealing over $200 million from his investors.
Of course, he had to pay his victims back, which lowered his net worth.
Jordan Belfort’s Downfall and Plummeting Net Worth
Aside from his illegal activity at work, Jordan Belfort also developed an exorbitant lifestyle.
He bought high-rise apartments. He had lavish parties at five-star restaurants where he would wreck the place. Once, he even crashed his 256-foot superyacht off the shores of Italy.
At the same time, Belfort was deep into drugs. He had become abusive and unfaithful to his wife. Nadine Macaluso, who married Belfort from 1991 to 2005, says he burned her clothes and kicked her down the stairs when she asked for a divorce.
Jordan Belfort’s actions led him to lose his marriage and a chunk of his fortune. His downfall and plummeting net worth were a spectacle for the financial industry.
Jordan Belfort’s Sentencing
Jordan Belfort was charged with laundering money to Switzerland, among other fraud cases. He was sentenced to four years in prison but was released in less than two years.
One of the reasons for the lower sentence is that he made a deal with the FBI. He incriminated some of his friends and co-workers in exchange for less jail time.
The court also ordered Belfort to pay a fine of $110 million. In addition, 50% of his income gets sent to his victims each month.
Jordan Belfort’s Books
While in prison, Jordan Belfort wrote books to pass the time. His memoir, The Wolf of Wall Street, became an award-winning film in 2013.
According to Belford, the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie wasn’t exaggerated. His life was as hectic as depicted.
Next, he released the self-help book The Way of the Wolf in 2017 and The Wolf of Investing in 2023.
Many criticize Jordan Belfort for profiting off of his criminal actions.
Jordan Belfort Today
Today, Jordan Belfort is now 61 years old. He has since sobered up and become a popular resource speaker. You may sometimes see him on shows like Piers Morgan Uncensored.
Moreover, he rebranded himself as the world’s best sales trainer and investment expert. He sells courses on straight-line sales, marketing, and persuasion. Plus, he started a crypto workshop where students had to pay one bitcoin to attend.
Jordan Belfort currently lives in Los Angeles, close to his family. He reconciled with his ex-wife, Nadine Macaluso. The two even attended the premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street together!
In 2019, The Wolf of Wall Street became an immersive experience in London. At the same time, the film’s producer got arrested in Malaysia for money laundering, which is ironic.
A year later, Jordan Belfort sued the filmmakers of The Wolf of Wall Street for $300 million. This is because the studio allegedly got funds for the movie through illegal means.
Jordan Belfort’s Current Net Worth
Following his downfall, Jordan Belfort’s net worth fell from $400 million to around $100 million. He now manages his money better and claims to be a changed man.
Jordan Belfort gets wealth through his writing, resource speaking, and other side hustles.
Who Is Jordan Belfort’s Wife Now?
Cristina Invernizzi, known for her roles in modeling and acting, became Jordan Belfort’s third wife. Her career took off with a role in “Cita a Ciegas” after moving to Mexico, followed by a venture into modeling.
She met Belfort in 2019, and they quickly started dating, marrying in a small Las Vegas ceremony in 2021. The couple welcomed a son in 2023.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jordan Belfort is a talented man who rose to wealth from humble beginnings. Unfortunately, he became caught up in a high-flying lifestyle, resulting in his fall from grace.
Still, the multi-millionaire always rises from his challenges. What’s impressive is that he overcomes them through creative ways.
Jordan Belfort’s net worth is now $100 million because of the effort he put into his books and side hustles. He serves as an example to those in the finance world!
