Rich Dudes│How the Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfort’s Net Worth Reached $100M
Jordan Belfort is a former stockbroker who made millions from penny stock scams before going to prison. He's now a motivational speaker and has a net worth of $100 million.
Updated Jul 21, 2023
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Jordan Belfort is a former American stockbroker who gained notoriety for his involvement in penny stock scams in the 1990s. In his early life, Jordan Belfort was known for his rise to success and eventual downfall which inspired the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street.
But just how much is Jordan Belfort worth? Well, Belfort's net worth is estimated to be around $100 million, largely from his involvement in these scams. After 22 months in prison for fraud and money laundering, he became a motivational speaker, sharing his experiences and teaching how to be an effective salesperson.
Jordan Belfort, the notorious Wolf of Wall Street, seems to know what he's doing with his Aventus Ventures portfolio of startups, which has a combined valuation of over $100 million.
Belfort's book The Wolf of Wall Street details his experiences and provides insight into shady practices in finance. His story highlights the importance of conducting thorough research and due diligence before investing in any company. Despite his past, Belfort continues to be a popular figure in the world of sales and entrepreneurship, with many people seeking his advice on how to succeed in business.
Jordan Belfort net worth at a glance
Net worth | $100 million |
Born | July 9, 1962 |
Nationality | American born in Bronx, New York City, New York |
Became a millionaire at | Age 30 |
Occupations | Salesman, stockbroker, entrepreneur, speaker, and author |
Sources of wealth | OneTo11, Squirrel Technologies Ltd, motivational speaking, business consulting services |
Asset classes | Cryptocurrency, NFTs, startups, real estate |
How Jordan Ross Belfort made his money
How Jordan Ross Belfort made his money
Jordon Belfort AKA The Wolf of Wall Street made his first million dollars by selling penny stocks to wealthy investors, earning millions of dollars through commissions. Before jumping into the stock brokerage game, he got his start in the door-to-door meat and seafood sales industry.
Belfort was known for his high-pressure sales tactics, cold-calling potential investors and convincing them to invest in the stocks he was promoting. With his "boiler room" crew, he used illegal tactics to manipulate stock prices and defraud investors, resulting in losses of around $200 million of investors' money.
His brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont was a breeding ground for illegal practices, leading to his eventual downfall and a 22-month stint in prison for fraud and money laundering. Still, his escapades and crimes are detailed in his book The Wolf of Wall Street and his story has steeped pop-cultural perspectives on professional investing and corporate finance.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort memoir titled The Wolf of Wall Street which was adapted into a Martin Scorsese film where Belfort is portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie depicts Belfort's lavish lifestyle, drug use, and fraudulent activities, which resulted in his arrest and conviction for securities fraud and money laundering.
Belfort served 22 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution to his victims. His fraudulent activities involved pump-and-dump schemes, where he and his associates manipulated the stock prices of companies they controlled.
Belfort received $500,000 in advance for his first memoir and $940,500 for the film rights. Belfort allegedly claims he gave all of this money to his victims, but there's no proof he ever did. Jordan Belfort's life story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and unethical behavior in investment finance.
How Jordan Belfort invests
How Jordan Belfort invests
The Wolf of Wall Street has made investments in various assets including luxury real estate and cryptocurrency. Despite admitting to being wrong about Bitcoin in the past, Belfort now recognizes its potential and believes its price will continue to rise, which is why he chooses to invest in it.
Let's take a closer look at how the Wolf of Wallstreet invests his money.
Startup
Jordan Belfort, the infamous Wolf of Wall Street, may have scammed people in the past, but now he's investing in legitimate startups. Belfort invested in OneTo11, a blockchain gaming platform. He must have a thing for games since the company uses blockchain technology to ensure secure and transparent transactions.
Jordan's also invested in Squirrel Technologies, a crypto wallet and NFT start-up. It's like he's creating his own little ecosystem of secure and user-friendly platforms. Squirrel Technologies allows users to store, manage, and trade their NFTs.
Aside from investing in startups, Belfort has also created his own courses on sales and persuasion. The man knows a thing or two about selling, after all. His most popular program is called Straight Line Persuasion.
OneTo11 seems to have hit the jackpot with its blockchain gaming platform. Since their $2.5 million seed funding round, the company has been on a roll, with plans to expand its user base and develop new games. And it's no surprise since they've been seeing a 100% increase in registered users every month and a 40% increase in daily active users.
Jordan Belfort seems to know what he's doing with his Aventus Ventures portfolio of startups which is valued at over $100 million. He's got a good eye for startups with strong teams and products that offer the market solutions to real problems.
Crypto and NFTs
The crypto mastermind Jordan Belfort is taking his investing game to the world of NFTs and cryptocurrency. He's not just raising money for charity with NFT auctions, he's also putting his money where his mouth is. Belfort shelled out $8.5 million for CryptoPunk #6033, one of the rarest CryptoPunks out there.
He's also invested in Bitcoin and Ethereum and is a big supporter of digital assets.
But it's not just about buying and holding for Belfort—he's set to release a series of NFTs inspired by his "Wolf of Wall Street" persona. And if you want to know more about how to invest like Belfort, he even hosted a 2-day cryptocurrency workshop for a fee of $40,000 to share his insights on the market.
With an $8.5 million investment in Cryptopunks, Belfort is now sitting on an asset worth only $115,000—maybe $170,000 on a good day. Whether or not you think Cryptopunk NFTs are just glorified profile pics, you can’t deny their novelty and incredible value. Belfort's investments in Bitcoin and Ethereum were probably more profitable.
Despite concerns about volatility, digital assets have performed incredibly well this year, with Bitcoin up
. It's no wonder Belfort is such a big supporter of web3.
Real estate
Jordan Belfort has a mansion in Manhattan Beach and a beach house in Hermosa Beach, California, but he currently resides in a $27 million luxury mansion in New York.
This 2-acre estate in Glen Head that once belonged to Belfort was put on sale for $2.89 million in 2017.
Source: mansionglobal.com
His former Long Island mansion—which was featured in The Wolf of Wall Street film—was recently put up for sale for around $10 million. The Long Island mansion is not only a luxurious living space, but it was also the set for the movie complete with a home theater, gym, and tennis court.
Yacht
Jordan Belfort's yacht dubbed Nadine after his wife Nadine Carti was a 147-foot luxury vessel that was valued at $125 million at the time. It featured amenities such as a helipad, a jacuzzi, a gym, and multiple suites as well as a movie theater, a disco, and even a sauna.
However, in 2018, it was reported that the yacht sank after being hit by a Mediterranean storm off the coast of Italy.
Source: ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (Paramount Pictures)
Is investing like Jordan Belfort a good idea?
Is investing like Jordan Belfort a good idea?
Investors who are interested in emulating Jordan Belfort's investment style could take a closer look at some of the assets he has invested in, such as OneTo11 and Squirrel Technologies. For those interested in the world of cryptocurrency and NFTs, Belfort has invested in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and CryptoPunks.
However, it’s important to note that these investments can be volatile and risky, so it is crucial for investors to only invest what they can afford to lose.
Real estate is another area where Belfort has invested, with properties in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, California. However, as with any real estate investment, there are risks involved, and a significant amount of capital is usually required.
Rental properties are probably the safest option and are often more accessible than other types of real estate investments.
It’s worth noting that although Belfort has turned to legitimate investing, he has a history of securities fraud and money laundering. Therefore, it is essential for investors to take everything Belfort says with a grain of salt, be skeptical, and conduct their own research before investing.
While Jordan Belfort's investment style has brought him significant wealth, investors should proceed with caution and only invest in ventures that align with their values and risk tolerance.