The Wolf of Wall Street book cover

The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort Summary

The Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort
3.75 (38528 Reviews)
Biography
Finance
Entrepreneurship
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of The Wolf of Wall Street

Jordan Belfort's raw memoir of Wall Street debauchery became Martin Scorsese's five-time Oscar-nominated film. Leonardo DiCaprio defended its satirical critique of financial excess, sparking global debates on greed. Discover the true story that BBC ranked among the century's greatest cultural touchstones.

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Key takeaways

1

When Getting Rich Becomes a Religion

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What happens when a twenty-something cold-caller discovers he can turn greed into gold? Jordan Belfort's transformation from "lower than pond scum" to the Wolf of Wall Street reads like a fever dream of American capitalism gone mad. His first day at L.F. Rothschild in 1987 introduced him to a primal truth: the boardroom at opening bell wasn't a workplace-it was a gladiatorial arena where young Masters of the Universe screamed into phones, creating what Belfort described as "a mighty roar" of unbridled greed. Senior broker Mark Hanna delivered the industry's fundamental lesson over lunch: "People don't buy stock; it gets sold to them." This wasn't investment advice-it was a declaration of war on unsuspecting investors. Six years later, Belfort had built Stratton Oakmont into a machine that would make over a thousand people rich beyond imagination while systematically defrauding countless victims. His mansion, helicopter, and second wife-the stunning "Duchess of Bay Ridge"-represented the ultimate American Dream. But this dream had a dark engine: teaching socially awkward kids to sound like financial wizards while peddling worthless stocks to people who trusted them.

2

Building an Empire on Beautiful Lies

3

The Art of Making Money Disappear

4

The Cocaine Breakfast Club

5

When the Wolf Becomes the Prey

6

From Penthouse to Prison: The Reckoning

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@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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@SofiaP
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@Jaded_Falcon
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