The Wolf of Wall Street (book)

The Wolf of Wall Street is a memoir by Jordan Belfort, first published in 2007. The book details Belfort's experiences running Stratton Oakmont, a penny stock brokerage firm, during the 1990s. It chronicles his rise to immense wealth through manipulative and fraudulent stock sales, his lavish lifestyle fueled by illegal gains, and his eventual downfall due to investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The memoir delves into the culture of Stratton Oakmont, characterized by aggressive sales tactics, substance abuse, and unethical behavior. Belfort candidly describes his involvement in pump-and-dump schemes, money laundering, and other illegal activities that enabled him to amass a fortune.

The book covers Belfort's relationships with colleagues, clients, and family, highlighting the impact of his actions on those around him. It also explores his struggles with addiction and his eventual cooperation with authorities, leading to his imprisonment.

"The Wolf of Wall Street" provides a firsthand account of the excesses and corruption prevalent in the financial industry during the late 20th century and offers a cautionary tale about greed and its consequences. The memoir served as the basis for the 2013 film of the same name, directed by Martin Scorsese.