Jordan Ross Belfort (born July 9, 1962) is an American author, speaker and former stockbroker. He gained public attention for building a high‑pressure brokerage firm in the 1990s, later pleading guilty to fraud and related crimes tied to stock‑market manipulation. After serving a federal prison sentence, he wrote memoirs about his experiences and established a career as a sales trainer and motivational speaker.

Career and methods

Belfort founded and led the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont, which sold speculative stocks using aggressive cold‑calling, scripted sales pitches and high‑volume trading. These techniques—often described as boiler‑room tactics—helped the firm raise capital for small companies while creating market demand for the stocks it promoted. Regulators later characterized many of these operations as "pump‑and‑dump" schemes, in which the value of shares was artificially inflated then sold off.

In the late 1990s Belfort was investigated for securities fraud and money laundering. He pleaded guilty to related charges in 1999 and cooperated with prosecutors. He served 22 months in federal prison and was ordered to make restitution to defrauded investors—an amount reported to exceed one hundred million dollars—an obligation that has remained a topic of public and legal scrutiny.

Writing, film and later activities

Belfort published his first memoir, The Wolf of Wall Street, in 2007 and a follow‑up, Catching the Wolf of Wall Street, several years later. The first memoir was adapted into the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Following his release from prison, Belfort promoted himself as a speaker and sales coach, delivering seminars on persuasion, closing techniques and business strategy. Information about his post‑conviction career and offerings can be found in profiles and interviews such as public coverage and biographies.

Legacy and controversies

Belfort's story remains a polarizing example of late‑20th‑century Wall Street excess. Supporters point to his candid memoirs and sales expertise, while critics say his public persona risks glamorizing financial crime. His life has been used in discussions about securities regulation, the ethics of financial marketing, and the cultural fascination with rise‑and‑fall narratives in business. Notable facts include his role in shaping public awareness of boiler‑room practices, his authorship of best‑selling memoirs, and the prominent film adaptation that brought his story to a global audience.

  • Born: July 9, 1962
  • Best‑known book: The Wolf of Wall Street
  • Film adaptation: The Wolf of Wall Street
  • Post‑prison career: author, speaker, sales trainer