The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Last updated:
May 14, 2025

Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is a riotous, high-octane depiction of greed, excess, and moral collapse in the world of high finance. Based on the memoir of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, the film offers a relentless look at the darker, more debauched side of the American Dream. It’s a chaotic mix of wild parties, criminal schemes, and brilliant performances, all stitched together with razor-sharp direction and dialogue.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Jordan’s Humble (But Crooked) Beginnings

We meet Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) in the late 1980s as a wide-eyed, eager stockbroker starting out on Wall Street. His first mentor, Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey), imparts wisdom about the real nature of the job: selling illusions, not investments. This advice, along with an emphasis on drugs and self-gratification, sets the tone for Jordan’s future.

After the Black Monday crash, Jordan finds himself out of work but quickly lands at a penny stock brokerage. He realizes he can make massive commissions selling cheap, junk stocks to clueless investors. This discovery gives birth to Stratton Oakmont, his own firm, which blends high-pressure sales tactics with over-the-top indulgence.

Building the Empire

Jordan teams up with Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), and together they build Stratton Oakmont into a behemoth of financial manipulation. Jordan’s methods aren’t legal—or ethical—but they are incredibly lucrative. With his now-signature style of motivational speeches, chest-pounding bravado, and relentless drive, he turns the office into a frat house of financial savagery.

They go public, manipulate stock prices, and launder money, all while throwing extravagant parties, abusing every drug imaginable, and treating morality like a speed bump. The film famously includes scenes of dwarf-tossing, sex on trading floors, and excessive spending on yachts, prostitutes, and drugs. Jordan’s life becomes a hallucinatory whirlwind of excess.

Trouble with the Law

Eventually, the FBI, led by agent Patrick Denham (Kyle Chandler), begins circling. Jordan’s brashness and inability to stay clean make him an easy target. Attempts to hide his money using Swiss banks (with the help of Naomi’s aunt Emma) fall apart, and betrayals start to pile up as his empire begins to crumble.

His marriage to Naomi (Margot Robbie) deteriorates under the weight of infidelity, drug use, and growing paranoia. Donnie’s screw-ups—including a nearly disastrous attempt to smuggle money taped to a courier’s body—only add to Jordan’s growing sense that the end is near.

Movie Ending

The film’s final act shows the downfall of Jordan Belfort in stark detail. He refuses a government plea deal that would have allowed him to cooperate and walk free, choosing instead to remain loyal to his firm. However, he secretly tries to tip off Donnie about a wiretap, which the FBI catches. This seals his fate.

Jordan is arrested and, after turning informant, he betrays several of his colleagues, including Donnie. He is sentenced to 36 months in federal prison but serves only 22 months. His post-prison life sees him reinvented as a motivational speaker, ironically using the same charisma and salesmanship that once made him millions on Wall Street.

The film closes with Jordan hosting a sales seminar in New Zealand, asking the audience to “sell me this pen,” a callback to earlier in the movie. It’s a chilling reminder that while the empire has fallen, the seductive power of salesmanship and illusion remains alive in him. The final scenes don’t offer moral resolution so much as a reflection: Jordan isn’t entirely redeemed, nor is he completely punished. He survives—just reinvented.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Wolf of Wall Street does not have a post-credits scene. Once the film ends, that’s it. No extra content, no hidden scenes. But the impact of the ending lingers long after the screen goes black.

Type of Movie

The film is a biographical black comedy crime drama, with a heavy dose of satire. It balances manic energy and outrageous comedy with dark commentary on greed, corruption, and the American financial system.

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort
Jonah Hill as Donnie Azoff
Margot Robbie as Naomi Lapaglia
Kyle Chandler as FBI Agent Patrick Denham
Matthew McConaughey as Mark Hanna
Rob Reiner as Max Belfort
Jean Dujardin as Jean-Jacques Saurel
Jon Bernthal as Brad Bodnick

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Theodore Shapiro, but much of the film relies on a needle-drop soundtrack with songs from artists like Billy Joel, The Lemonheads, Bo Diddley, and Eartha Kitt. Scorsese uses music not as background but as narrative force, injecting energy and irony into key scenes.

Filming Locations

New York City, USA – Main setting, capturing the heart of Wall Street culture.
New Jersey, USA – Suburban scenes and the Stratton Oakmont office.
Italy and Switzerland – Scenes involving Swiss bank accounts and yachting adventures.
Queensland, Australia – Used for scenes aboard Jordan’s yacht, replacing Mediterranean waters.

These locations reflect Jordan’s rise from a modest background to an international high-roller lifestyle—and his eventual fall.

Awards and Nominations

Nominated for 5 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director (Scorsese), Best Actor (DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Hill), Best Adapted Screenplay (Terence Winter)
Won a Golden Globe: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Leonardo DiCaprio)
Despite its acclaim, the film won no Oscars, but it became a cult hit and is now widely considered a modern classic.

Behind the Scenes Insights

DiCaprio described it as his most challenging role due to the physical comedy and emotional range.
Jonah Hill famously took only $60,000 for the role because he wanted to work with Scorsese.
The Quaalude overdose scene took a full day to shoot, with no stunt doubles.
The real Jordan Belfort makes a cameo at the end, introducing DiCaprio’s character on stage.
Much of the dialogue was improvised, especially the chaotic office scenes.
Some scenes were based directly on stories from Belfort’s memoir, while others were dramatized to amplify the absurdity.

Inspirations and References

The film is based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir, also titled The Wolf of Wall Street. Belfort was a real-life stockbroker who founded Stratton Oakmont and went to prison for securities fraud and money laundering. Scorsese and screenwriter Terence Winter adapted the book with a satirical lens, turning real scandals into biting entertainment.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No alternate endings were released, but many deleted or extended scenes exist, including:

A longer version of Jordan’s wedding to Naomi.
Additional office chaos and prank scenes at Stratton Oakmont.
More footage of Jordan’s yacht sinking and the helicopter crash.

These were cut to keep the already 3-hour runtime from ballooning even further.

Book Adaptations and Differences

While the film sticks closely to the book’s structure and major events, it tones down some of the even more depraved elements (yes, seriously). Belfort’s memoir is even more self-aggrandizing and includes additional scams and drug binges that didn’t make it to the screen. Scorsese smartly distilled the narrative to focus on themes of hubris and excess.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Jordan’s speech with the line: “I’m not leaving!”
The Lemmon 714 (Quaaludes) overdose scene and the crawling-to-the-car sequence.
Jordan and Donnie’s chaotic fight after learning the phones are tapped.
The yacht sinking in a storm en route to Monaco.
Naomi throwing water on Jordan after catching him with another woman.

Iconic Quotes

“Sell me this pen.”
“I’m not leaving! The show goes on!”
“There’s no nobility in poverty.”
“On a daily basis, I consume enough drugs to sedate Manhattan, Long Island, and Queens.”
“Pick up the phone and start dialing!”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The actual Jordan Belfort introduces DiCaprio as “Jordan Belfort” at the seminar in the final scene.
The Stratton Oakmont logo is eerily similar to Merrill Lynch’s, a wink to real Wall Street.
The number “714” on the Quaaludes is accurate—an actual reference to the real pill’s imprint.
Jordan’s house in the film is designed to mimic Tony Montana’s from Scarface.

Trivia

The f-word is used over 560 times, making it one of the most profanity-laden mainstream films ever.
The movie set a Guinness World Record for Most Swearing in a Film.
DiCaprio really ate a live goldfish—but only after making sure it was not harmed (animal protection reps were present).
The yacht scene was filmed using a combination of water tanks and CGI.

Why Watch?

If you want to watch capitalism go completely off the rails in the most entertaining way possible, The Wolf of Wall Street is a must. It’s bold, hilarious, disgusting, fascinating—and always watchable. It’s a masterclass in performance, direction, and excess. Not a morality tale, but a warning wrapped in comedy and cocaine.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)