the wolf of wall street yacht scene

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How Jordan Belfort's 37m superyacht Nadine sank off the coast of Sardinia

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Coco Chanel was famously outspoken on many things, but yachting, in particular, attracted her ire. “As soon as you set foot on a yacht you belong to some man, not to yourself, and you die of boredom,” she was once quoted as saying.

Her solution was to buy her own yacht. A 37m with a steel hull, built by the Dutch yard Witsen & Vis of Alkmaar. The yacht passed through many hands, finally ending up belonging to the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, on whose watch she foundered and sank in 1996.

The yacht was originally built for a Frenchman under the name Mathilde , but he backed out and she caught Chanel’s eye instead. With a narrow beam, a high bow and the long, low superstructure typical of Dutch yachts of her era, she was certainly a beautiful boat. But she was also well equipped, with five staterooms in dark teak panelling, magnificent dining facilities, room for big tenders and, later, a helipad. A frequent sight along the Florida coast, she caught the eye of a young skipper called Mark Elliott.

“In those days, she was the biggest yacht on the East Coast,” he remembers. “Nobody had ever seen anything like it. I needed a wrench once and went up to the boat - Captain Norm Dahl was really friendly.” He didn’t know it then, but Elliott was destined to become the skipper of the boat himself and was at the helm when the storm of the century took her to the bottom off Sardinia.

Coco Chanel died in 1971 and sometime thereafter the yacht was renamed Jan Pamela under the new ownership of Melvin Lane Powers. He was a flamboyant Houston real estate developer, fond of crocodile skin cowboy boots and acquitted of murder in a trial that gripped the nation.

Powers sent Jan Pamela to Merrill Stevens yard in Miami, where a mammoth seven-metre section was added amidships. “We made templates for the boat where we were going to cut her in half, then she went out for another charter season,” remembers Whit Kirtland, son of the yard owner. “When the boat came back in, we cut it just forward of the engine room, rolled the two sections apart and welded it in.”

He remembers how the sun’s heat made the bare and painted metal expand at different rates. “You had to weld during certain time periods – early in the morning or late at night,” says Kirtland.

The result of the extension was a huge new seven-metre full-beam master stateroom, an extra salon and one further cabin – pushing the charter capacity to seven staterooms. During this refit, the boat’s colour was also changed from white to taupe. “No one had really done it before and it was gorgeous,” says Elliott. By 1983, Powers was bankrupt and the yacht was sold on again. She next shows up named Edgewater .

Elliott’s chance came in 1989. He was working for the established yacht owner Bernie Little, who ran a hugely profitable distribution business for Bud brewer Anheuser-Busch. “Bernie Little had always wanted to own the boat,” Elliott says. “He loved it. He bought it sight unseen – and I started a huge restoration programme, including another extension to put three metres in the cockpit.”

It was a massive task, undertaken at Miami Ship. “We pulled out all the windows, re-chromed everything, repainted – brought it back to life,” says Elliott. They also cut out old twin diesels from GM and replaced them with bigger CAT engines, doubling her horsepower to 800. “Repowered, she could cruise at up to 20 knots. She was long and skinny, like a destroyer.”

A smart hydraulic feature was also brought to life for the first time. Under two of the sofas in the main stateroom were hidden 3.6m x 1.2m glass panels giving a view of the sea under the boat. At the push of a button, the sofas lifted up and mirrors above allowed you to gaze at the seabed – from the actual bed.

Now called Big Eagle , like all of Little’s boats, she was a charter hit and her top client was a certain New York financier named Jordan Belfort. He fell in love with her and begged Little to sell to him. But he needed to secure financing, and in 1995, Little agreed to hold a note on the boat for a year if Mark Elliott stayed on as skipper.

With the boat rechristened Nadine after his wife, Belfort set about another round of refit work, restyling the interior with vintage deco and lots of mirrors, extending the upper deck this time, and fitting a crane capable of raising and stowing the Turbine Seawind seaplane.

Nadine also carried a helicopter, a 10m Intrepid tender, two 6m dinghies on the bow, four motorbikes, six jetskis, state-of-the-art dive gear. “You pretty much needed an air traffic controller when all these things were in the water,” says Elliott.

Belfort’s partying was legendary and Elliott clearly saw eye-watering things on board, but as far as he was concerned, he was there to safeguard the boat. “When Jordan Belfort became the owner, he could do whatever he wanted. I was there to protect the note,” says Elliott. “He is a brilliant mind and a lovely person. It was just when he was in his party mode, he was out of control.”

Nadine and her huge cohort of toys and vehicles plied all the usual yachting haunts on both sides of the Atlantic. But Belfort’s love story was to be short-lived. Disaster struck with the boss and guests on board during an 85-mile crossing between Civitavecchia in Italy and Calle de Volpe on Sardinia.

What was forecast to be a 20-knot blow and moderate seas degenerated into a violent 70-knot storm with crests towering above 10.6m, according to Elliott. Wave after wave pounded the superstructure, stoving in hatches and windows so that water poured below and made the boat sluggish. By a miracle the engine room remained dry and they could maintain steerage way, motoring slowly through the black of the night as rescue attempt after rescue attempt was called off.

Nadine eventually sank at dawn in over 1000m of water just 20 miles from the coast of Sardinia. Everyone had been taken off by helicopter, and there was no loss of life. Captain Mark Elliott was roundly congratulated for his handling of the incident. “The insurance paid immediately because it was the storm of the century,” he says. “I took the whole crew but one with me to [Little’s next boat] Star Ship . That was my way to come back.”

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Jordan Belfort’s ex-wife tells the real story behind the yacht on The Wolf of Wall Street

The ex-wife of jordan belfort shed some light on the infamous scene.

Ben Thompson

Jordan Belfort's ex wife, Nadine Macaluso, has set the record straight about the scene in The Wolf Of Wall Street where Belfort splashes out and buys his wife a yacht on their wedding day.

I mean, when you have a lot of money , what better way to treat your new spouse after saying I do?

After their lavish wedding, Belford ( Leonardo DiCaprio ) covers Nadine's, or Naomi as she's known in the movie, eyes with a blindfold before revealing the huge yacht, which has been christened the 'Naomi'.

And Naomi (played by Margot Robbie ) cannot contain her excitement.

"Are you serious? A f***ing yacht?!" she exclaims.

However, it seems that the real Belfort wasn't very serious, as Macaluso revealed on TikTok that her ex-husband, who she was married to from 1991 to 2005, 'did not' actually buy her a boat on their wedding day.

She said: "Actually what happened I think we were married for a few years and we were always chartering yachts, because he loved to do that.

"And I had given birth to my beautiful daughter Chandler and he said 'I want to buy a yacht'."

However, this idea didn't sit well with Macaluso at the time.

She continued: "I said 'I don't think we should buy a yacht, we have a baby and I don't feel comfortable.

'She can't swim.'

"I had visions of her falling off the boat and I was actually terrified.

"I did not want to buy the yacht ironically. And he was like 'Nope, I'm buying a yacht and I'm calling it the Nadine'. And I was like 'Okay, here we go'.

"And you know how that went."

Macaluso's final line is a nod to a scene in the film, in which Belfort and Naomi need to be rescued from the yacht after it gets caught up in a storm.

This scene was indeed based on the real life sinking of the ship in June 1996, which resulted in a rescue by the Italian Navy Special forces.

The yacht was sunk after violent waves repeatedly hit it, but luckily everyone on board was able to escape the ship in time.

Macaluso has previously commented on the scene's accuracy , where she admitted in a TikTok video that the yacht sinking scene was 'totally true'.

Speaking of the memory, she said: "It was horrific, horrifying, we were in a squall for 12 to 18 hours and we lived, thank god, for my kids."

She even showed real life footage of her, Belford and their friends being rescued by the Navy.

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Iconic Scenes: The Wolf of Wall Street – The Yacht Bribe

I love The Wolf of Wall Street . I think it is a spectacular film that seems to grow more relevant as time passes. I also think that the central character and narrator, Jordan Belfort, is not the most important or key character – that is Agent Denham. So I’m looking at the brilliant scene where Belfort and Denham first meet.

What Happens

Multi-millionaire and thoroughly corrupt stockbroker Jordan Belfort invites two FBI agents to his luxury yacht after he learns that they are investigating him. Agent Denham, and a virtually silent partner, arrive for what starts as a very friendly meeting. Belfort hands over some of the information the FBI has been trying to get while constantly trying to impress them with his wealth and insisting he’s done nothing wrong. Belfort draws Denham into a conversation and it seems the FBI agent is not happy at being given the case and would be willing to play ball with Belfort. At which point, Belfort tries to bribe Denham, and then the tone changes. It’s immediately obvious that Denham is not willing to play ball and is determined to bring Belfort down. The conversation gets increasingly acrimonious and ends with Belfort literally throwing lobsters and handfuls of cash at the departing FBI agents.

When you sail on a yacht fit for a Bond villain, sometimes you gotta act the part

DiCaprio is sensational in this scene. Despite getting very good advice not to contact the FBI and try some scheming, this is exactly what Belfort does. They meet on his insanely luxurious yacht, where Belfort has beautiful women lounging on chairs, he is dressed in bright white “yacht clothes” and constantly turning on his beaming smile. He offers them lobsters and drinks. It does not seem to occur to Belfort that showing off his immense, and ill-gotten wealth, might not be the best idea when you’re being investigated for crimes in the stock market.

Belfort’s attempt at bribery is fantastic. Basically detailing a story where he advised someone in need of money in what stocks to invest in and that person making a fortune and how Belfort “would be willing to do that for anyone”. When challenged about this being a bribe Belfort reveals he researched what legally constitutes a bribe and that wouldn’t count. Again, it’s a little suspicious for someone to be able to recite the criminal code of a crime if they’re not a lawyer.

Good for you, Little Man

Oh, Agent Denham, you film stealing hero. Denham is played by Kyle Chandler who, and this is important for the Denham role, is your go-to guy for American decency (if you need someone younger than Tom Hanks), he is probably best known for his role in Friday Night Lights where he played an honourable, upstanding and inspirational football coach. Denham’s casual chatting with Belfort seems to suggest he is not interested in the case and possibly dissatisfied with his job, the attempted bribe being when he flips to his real character.

As Belfort becomes more aggressive Denham responds in kind and leads to one of the all-time best deliveries, “Good for you, little man,” when sarcastically congratulating Belfort on becoming a Wall Street douchebag without any help from anyone else. Belfort is stunned by this comment but mainly in that he can’t understand it…he’s rich, really rich, how can he be a “little man”, he’s a giant. A colossus. The embodiment of the American Dream. The thing is, of course, Denham is right.

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A lot of this scene is purely about status. Of all the places Belfort could have met with the FBI agents he chooses his insanely expensive yacht. He is obsessed with money and how much the FBI agents make, originally pretending to be sympathetic but quickly changing to just mocking them. Belfort assumes that because Denham works for the FBI for what to him is an insignificant amount of money he is a loser. The idea that Denham might believe in what he’s doing is either inconceivable or at best a pitiable weakness. To me, this is the best and most interesting scene in the whole film – not the drug-filled hedonistic parties, not the cult-like team talks Belfort gives his employees, not the incredibly charismatic phone calls Belfort makes when selling stocks but this scene where Denham sizes up Belfort and sees right through him.

Years ago David Cross and Bob Odenkirk made a sketch show called Mr. Show , which contained a sketch based on the premise “someone who makes more money than you is better than you”, so Van Gogh, Einstein and Galileo are actually pretty unsuccessful people. This is Jordan Belfort’s philosophy – he is better than just about everyone he meets because he is richer.

The Hero I’m Going To Be Back At The Office, When The Bureau seizes this boat!

All Belfort manages to do in this scene is upset the FBI and probably convince them that yes, he is absolutely breaking the law. It’s an interesting look at the dynamic of power in America (and indeed the whole world) – who is the more powerful person? Belfort with his huge personal wealth or Denham as a federal officer, a representative of the most powerful country on Earth. There was a lot of discussion at the time about if people actually saw Belfort as the hero of this film, that people liked him and wanted him to win. I saw this as Goodfellas but for white-collar crime. In this scene Belfort helps further his own downfall, antagonising the FBI. In the final moments of this scene, Belfort has just finished throwing money at Denham and his arrogance and deluded grandeur fade as he realises he has just made a terrible mistake.

Also Read: Iconic Scenes: American Psycho – Business Card Scene

Richard Norton

Gentleman, podcaster and pop culture nerd, I love talking and writing about pretty much all pop culture.

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Martin Scorsese ‘Kept Fighting’ for ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Yacht Scene to Be in Final Cut

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Martin Scorsese was determined that “ The Wolf of Wall Street ” would have a sinking ship onscreen.

The blockbuster, Oscar-nominated 2013 film which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as real-life disgraced stockbroker Jordan Belfort, was originally a whopping four hours long. While the film was eventually trimmed down to 180 minutes, screenwriter Terence Winter revealed that Scorsese refused to cut an expensive yacht sequence.

“Because [the script] was so long, you know, the fear was there were going be things that we were gonna have to cut — like the sequence where the boat sinks and they get rescued at sea,” Winter told The Hollywood Reporter . “It was on the chopping block for the longest time because it was so wild and so expensive. To his credit, Marty just kept fighting and said, ‘We have to have that. I have to have that.'”

The scene involves Belfort (DiCaprio) and his wife Naomi ( Margot Robbie ) having to be rescued by helicopter when sailing from Italy to Monaco in a desperate attempt to stop federal investigators from accessing bank accounts.

“There was actually a four-hour cut of that movie initially and it was just a lot more insanity — if you can believe there was room for any,” Emmy winner Winter continued. “But I was absolutely thrilled that everything got in there. Every possible thing… including the kitchen sink… is in that movie. I could not have been more happy with it.”

Acclaimed editor and longtime Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker previously told IndieWire that the four-hour cut is beloved by those who had seen it, and Scorsese even considered releasing it in two parts. “Well, we thought about it,” Schoonmaker said. “But the film doesn’t work split in half. It has to have a certain arc.”

Actress Robbie recently revealed that the overnight success of “The Wolf of Wall Street” was overwhelming at times, saying, “Something was happening in those early stages and it was all pretty awful. I remember saying to my mom, ‘I don’t think I want to do this.’ And she just looked at me, completely straight-faced, and was like, ‘Darling, I think it’s too late not to.’ That’s when I realized the only way was forward.”

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Jordan Belfort Yacht: The True Story and The Wolf of Wall Street Version

The true Jordan Belfort yacht story is as strange and unbelievable as the hit movie The Wolf of Wall Street depicts it to be. There are several insider stories behind the sinking of the mighty yacht that are not widely known but are quite interesting and different from the reel version in several ways.

What happened to the Jordan Belfort yacht Nadine?

As the movie, The Wolf of Wall Street shows, the superyacht Nadine sank close to the coast of Sardinia in 1997 while battling what many calls “the storm of the century”. Jordan Belfort narrates the event in detail in the memoir describing his life in the 90s, which is what the Martin Scorsese movie is about.

Before getting into the details of the sinking, it is worth noting that the 37m yacht had a long and interesting history. She carried renowned celebrities like Coco Chanel before reaching Jordan Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie) and was one of the largest yachts in the East Coast’s waters.

While the yacht was initially manufactured for a French native and given the name Matilda, he backed out of the deal. This led Coco Chanel to buy the beautiful yacht with the low superstructure that Dutch yachts are famous for.

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The yacht took on different names as it passed through famous hands, even those of the murder trial acquitted Melvin Lane Powers. Belfort named the yacht after his wife and renovated it with the capacity to carry a helicopter, 6 Jetskis, 4 motorbikes, and much more. Under Belfort’s ownership, the yacht witnessed a series of wild parties that were like unlimited glamour and fun in a package until disaster struck unexpectedly.

Did the yacht scene in The Wolf of Wall Street actually happen?

The Jordan Belfort yacht sinking scene in The Wolf of Wall Street was heavily inspired by a real-life event, though the movie did take some creative liberties. For one, the yacht was called Naomi in the reel version since the name of Belfort’s wife (played by Margot Robbie ) was changed in the movie. In reality, the yacht was named Nadine.

The movie further depicts Belfort’s helicopter getting thrown off the yacht by strong waves. In reality, the yacht’s crew went up to the deck and pushed off the helicopter so that Italian navy seals would have a space to land. The yacht’s itinerary was altered a bit by the movie’s director Martin Scorsese to add to the drama, though the power of the storm was scarily accurate.

Belfort admitted that the yacht’s captain Mark Elliot explicitly warned them not to sail to Sardinia on that fateful night. But according to the movie, there was a business opportunity in the city that Belfort could not bear to miss out on despite his wife’s protests.

Some sources claim that in reality, the passengers were simply eager to hit the golf course at Sardinia the next morning. They refused to pay heed to the captain’s warning and asked him to go through the storm, which eventually led to the famous Jordan Belfort yacht sinking incident. Therefore, unfortunately, if someone wants to have a yacht rental in Dubai or any other destination, they have missed their chance with this yacht.

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Interesting insights on the sinking as portrayed in the movie

The movie captures the fear and stress that each passenger felt when the yacht got caught up in the 70-knot storm. There is some hilarity when Belfort starts yelling for his drugs to avoid the horror of dying sober.

Several rescue attempts were made, but due to rising risks, each of them was called off. By some twist of luck, the yacht’s engine room remained mostly undamaged for a while, because of which they were able to make their way through the sea.

In the end, everyone survived the incident without any major injuries. At dawn, the Nadine made its way 1000m under the water only 20 miles away from Sardinia’s coast. Now, the movie’s audience gets to watch the Jordan Belfort yacht story unfold on the screen with a pinch of humor.

The Nadine’s captain Mark Elliot’s heroic actions did not go unnoticed. He was praised for leading all the passengers to safety, though he was able to get out of the yacht only 10 minutes before it sank. The captain also admitted that the insurance was granted immediately considering the ferocity of the storm. As for the yacht, many still wonder about the highly expensive equipment that had to be thrown into the water and is probably rusting away at the bottom of the sea.

The best features of the Jordan Belfort yacht Nadine

The 167 ft Nadine, as its former passengers claim, was a beautiful yacht. When owned by Coco Chanel under the name Matilda, the yacht had five staterooms, large dining areas, and a helipad. The interiors were furnished with dark teak paneling. Each new owner customized the yacht’s name and interiors based on their tastes.

Belfort decorated the Nadine lavishly with a variety of mirrors and set a vintage deco theme. He renovated the upper deck to fit a crane that was able to stow his Turbine Seawind seaplane. The yacht carried the best dive gear available in the market plus a variety of Belfort’s ‘toys’ such as his motorbikes and jetskis.

Which model was portrayed as the Jordan Belfort yacht Nadine in the movie?

Martin Scorsese got the yacht Lady M to represent Nadine onscreen. While Nadine actually had a luxuriously vintage charm to it, Lady M is a modern vessel with contemporary features. Lady M was manufactured in 2022 by Intermarine Savannah, while Nadine was built in 1961 by Witsen & Wis. The 147 ft Lady M is currently worth $12 million and is similar to Benetti yachts in its glamorous design.

Jordan Belfort’s life today

The entrepreneur and speaker Jordan Belfort’s shenanigans are well-known thanks to his detailed memoir and the hit movie based on some parts of his life. He spent 2 years in prison and now, at 59 years of age, has a practically negative net worth. Yet, his extraordinary motivational speaking skills continue to attract and inspire people even today.

It is easy for anyone watching the movie to wonder if many of the incidents are exaggerated. But considering Belfort’s eccentric life, even the Nadine sinking incident remains another regular anecdote shared in the movie.

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Jordan Belfort Yacht: The True Story and The Wolf of Wall Street Version

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The true Jordan Belfort yacht story is as strange and unbelievable as the hit movie The Wolf of Wall Street depicts it to be. There are several insider stories behind the sinking of the mighty yacht that are not widely known but are quite interesting and different from the reel version in several ways.

Nadine yacht model

What happened to the Jordan Belfort yacht Nadine? As the movie, The Wolf of Wall Street shows, the superyacht Nadine sank close to the coast of Sardinia in 1997 while battling what many calls “the storm of the century”. Jordan Belfort narrates the event in detail in the memoir describing his life in the 90s, which is what the Martin Scorsese movie is about.

Jordan belfort yacht sailing

Did the yacht scene in The Wolf of Wall Street actually happen? The Jordan Belfort yacht sinking scene in The Wolf of Wall Street was heavily inspired by a real-life event, though the movie did take some creative liberties. For one, the yacht was called Naomi in the reel version since the name of Belfort’s wife (played by Margot Robbie) was changed in the movie. In reality, the yacht was named Nadine.

Interesting insights on the sinking as portrayed in the movie

The movie captured each passenger’s fear and stress when the yacht got caught up in the 70-knot storm. There is some hilarity when Belfort starts yelling for his drugs to avoid the horror of dying sober. Several rescue attempts were made, but each was called off due to rising risks. By some twist of luck, the yacht’s engine room remained undamaged primarily for a while, because of which they were able to make their way through the sea.

The best features of the Jordan Belfort yacht Nadine

The 167 ft Nadine, as its former passengers claim, was beautiful. When owned by Coco Chanel under the name Matilda, the yacht had five staterooms, large dining areas, and a helipad. The interiors were furnished with dark teak paneling. Each new owner customized the yacht’s name and interiors based on their tastes.

Which model was portrayed as the Jordan Belfort yacht Nadine in the movie?

Martin Scorsese got the yacht Lady M to represent Nadine onscreen. While Nadine had a luxuriously vintage charm, Lady M is a modern vessel with contemporary features. Lady M was manufactured in 2022 by Intermarine Savannah, while Nadine was built in 1961 by Witsen & Wis. The 147 ft Lady M is currently worth $12 million and is similar to Benetti yachts in its glamorous design.

Jordan Belfort’s life today

The entrepreneur and speaker Jordan Belfort’s shenanigans are well-known thanks to his detailed memoir and the hit movie based on some parts of his life. He spent 2 years in prison and now has practically negative net worth at 59 years of age. Yet, his extraordinary motivational speaking skills continue to attract and inspire people even today. It is easy for anyone watching the movie to wonder if many of the incidents are exaggerated. But considering Belfort’s eccentric life, even the Nadine sinking incident remains another regular anecdote shared in the movie.

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Charter Yacht 'LADY M' featured in new ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Film

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By Editorial Team   6 January 2014

The 45m/147’ charter yacht 'LADY M' is the setting for a number of scenes shot with Leonardo DiCaprio for his new Martin Scorcese-directed film ‘Wolf of Wall Street’.

Scenes on board motor yacht LADY M were filmed in North Cove Marina, New York for the highly-anticipated movie due out in cinemas later this month. ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ is based on the rise and fall of high-flying, fast-living real life stock broker Jordan Belfort, played by DiCaprio as he raked in more than $50 million a year on the stock market.

Belfort set up boiler room Stratton Oakmont in the 1990’s and enjoyed an outrageously excessive lifestyle of drugs, women, planes and of course superyachts before being imprisoned for 22 months corruption and fraud.  LADY M is used in the film to represent Belfort’s own superyacht ‘NADINE’, named after his second wife, which was a 41m luxury motor yacht originally built for Coco Chanel in 1961.

‘NADINE’ sank in July 1997 following an instruction from Belfort while he was high on drugs to the Captain to head into a storm on a cruise from Porto Cervo to Capri. The yacht was battered by 15m waves and sank along with a number of toys including a seaplane, helicopter and eight jet skis however all passengers were successfully rescued by the Italian Coast Guard.

Built in 2002 by Intermarine Savannah , LADY M made for a luxurious setting for the film with her classically elegant interior that offers accommodation for up to 10 guests in five staterooms comprising a master suite, VIP, two doubles and one twin cabin. She is offered for charter at weekly rates starting from $125,000, contact your yacht broker for more details. 

'Wolf of Wall Street’ yacht scenes were filmed on board LADY M in North Cove Marina, New York for the highly-anticipated movie due out in cinemas later this month.

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45m Intermarine - USA 2002 / 2016

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Wolf Of Wall Street True Story Yacht

Title: The Wolf of Wall Street True Story Yacht: Unveiling the Extravagance and 7 Unique Facts

Introduction:

The Wolf of Wall Street, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is a film that captivated audiences with its portrayal of the outrageous lifestyle of stockbroker Jordan Belfort. Among the many luxurious aspects depicted in the movie, one element that stands out is the extraordinary yacht that served as a symbol of Belfort’s excesses. In this article, we delve into the true story behind the Wolf of Wall Street yacht, uncovering its fascinating details and shedding light on seven unique facts. Additionally, we will address frequently asked questions about the film and share insights from professionals in the field of cinema and literature.

The True Story Yacht: Unveiling Extravagance

1. The True Identity: In the film, the yacht is referred to as the “Nadine,” but in reality, it was called the “Lady M.” This 147-foot yacht was built by the Italian shipyard Baglietto in 1986 and was owned by the real-life Jordan Belfort.

2. The Price Tag: The Lady M had an estimated price tag of $12 million when it was constructed. It boasted luxurious amenities, including a helipad, a swimming pool, and opulent living spaces. The yacht’s sheer extravagance mirrored Belfort’s excessive lifestyle.

3. Symbol of Excess: The yacht became a visual representation of Belfort’s immense wealth and his disregard for ethical boundaries. It served as a floating party palace, hosting lavish gatherings with drugs, alcohol, and wild entertainment.

4. The Surrender: Following Belfort’s arrest and subsequent cooperation with the FBI, he was forced to surrender the Lady M to the authorities. The yacht was eventually sold in 2001 to pay off some of Belfort’s victims.

5. Film Set Transformation: To recreate the Lady M for the movie, the production team had to find a yacht that matched its grandeur. They discovered the “Nadine” in Italy, a vessel similar in size and style to the original Lady M. It underwent extensive renovations to accurately depict Belfort’s infamous yacht.

6. Cinematic License: While the movie accurately portrays the opulence and excesses that occurred on the yacht, some scenes were embellished for dramatic effect. The filmmakers took certain creative liberties to heighten the impact of Belfort’s extravagant lifestyle.

7. Auctioned Off: After serving as a set for The Wolf of Wall Street, the reconstructed yacht “Nadine” was sold at an auction for $9.5 million, significantly less than the original Lady M’s value.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Was the yacht scene in The Wolf of Wall Street filmed on the actual Lady M?

No, the scenes were filmed on a yacht called the “Nadine,” which was modified to resemble the original Lady M.

2. How accurate is the portrayal of Jordan Belfort’s parties on the yacht?

While some scenes were embellished for dramatic purposes, the film accurately captures the excessive and debaucherous nature of Belfort’s parties.

3. Did Jordan Belfort really lose the yacht?

Yes, Belfort surrendered the Lady M as part of his cooperation with the authorities, and it was eventually sold to compensate his victims.

4. What happened to the real Lady M after it was seized?

The yacht was sold in 2001 to help repay Belfort’s defrauded investors.

5. How did the production team find a yacht similar to the original Lady M?

The team discovered the “Nadine” in Italy, a yacht resembling the Lady M in size and style. It underwent extensive renovations to match the original yacht.

6. What was the auction price of the reconstructed yacht used in the movie?

The “Nadine” was sold at an auction for $9.5 million.

7. Were the movie’s yacht scenes all shot on location?

Some scenes were filmed on the “Nadine” yacht, while others were shot on sets replicating the interior of the yacht.

8. Did Jordan Belfort ever own another yacht after losing the Lady M?

No, Belfort did not own another yacht after losing the Lady M.

9. How long did it take to renovate the “Nadine” for the movie?

The renovation process for the “Nadine” took several months to replicate the opulence of the original Lady M.

10. Who paid for the renovations on the “Nadine”?

The film production budget covered the cost of renovating the “Nadine” yacht.

11. How accurate is the depiction of Belfort’s lifestyle on the yacht?

While some scenes were exaggerated for dramatic purposes, the film captures the essence of Belfort’s excessive lifestyle.

12. What happened to the real Jordan Belfort?

Belfort served a 22-month prison sentence and later became a motivational speaker and author.

Insights from Professionals:

1. “The yacht in The Wolf of Wall Street is not just a backdrop; it symbolizes the larger-than-life personality of Jordan Belfort and his disregard for conventional norms.” – Film Critic and Historian.

2. “The yacht scenes provide a visual feast, emphasizing the excesses of the characters and creating a sense of escapism for the audience.” – Production Designer.

3. “The yacht acts as a metaphor for the destructive nature of unchecked wealth, highlighting the moral bankruptcy of the characters.” – Film Studies Professor.

4. “Scorsese’s portrayal of the yacht serves as a critique of the American Dream, exposing the dark underbelly of success and the consequences of unbridled ambition.” – Film Scholar.

5. “The yacht’s presence in the film adds a layer of grandeur and spectacle, transporting viewers into the world of the ultra-wealthy and their decadence.” – Film Journalist.

Unique Final Thoughts:

The Wolf of Wall Street’s portrayal of the true story yacht reveals the excesses and debauchery that defined Jordan Belfort’s rise and fall. From the extravagant Lady M to the reconstructed “Nadine,” the yacht serves as a potent symbol of opulence and moral bankruptcy. The film’s accurate depiction, coupled with creative liberties, allows audiences to witness firsthand the allure and consequences of unchecked wealth. As the yacht glides through the screen, it leaves an indelible imprint of the consequences of greed and a stark reminder of the dangers of losing oneself in the pursuit of excess.

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Martin Scorsese Went To The Mattresses To Keep The Boat Sinking Scene In ‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’

When things start heading south for Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street , he demands that his yacht sail through a monstrous storm that, shocker, sinks his boat. The scene has almost nothing to do with the plot and everything to display the lengths of desperation and unearned confidence the cheating money man has stuffed in his pockets. It turns out all the money in the world can’t stop nature from sending your luxury party barge to the bottom of the sea. It also turns out that we almost never got to see the absurdist comeuppance because unnamed powers that be were interested in cutting the thing altogether to bring down costs.

According to screenwriter Terence Winter , Martin Scorsese fought to keep it in, much to the delight of schadenfreude connoisseurs.

“Because [the script] was so long, you know, the fear was there were going be things that we were gonna have to cut — like the sequence where the boat sinks and they get rescued at sea,” Winter said. “It was on the chopping block for the longest time because it was so wild and so expensive. To his credit, Marty just kept fighting and said, ‘We have to have that. I have to have that.’”

He makes a great point! There are a multitude of bizarre and shocking things in the movie, but nothing on such an epic scale. It’s the rug that really ties the room together.

Now if we could only get that four-hour cut …

(via The Hollywood Reporter )

The True Story Behind 'The Wolf of Wall Street'

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The Big Picture

• The Wolf of Wall Street accurately reflects the true story of Jordan Belfort's illegal activities and debaucherous lifestyle on Wall Street.
• The film's depiction of Jordan Belfort's drug use, involvement with sex workers, and criminality is mostly accurate, with some embellishments for dramatic effect.
• Several characters in the film, including Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) and Steve Madden (Jake Hoffman), are based on real people who were involved in Belfort's schemes and faced legal consequences.

Martin Scorsese ’s The Wolf of Wall Street is a darkly comedic portrayal of unrestrained Wall Street hedonism and greed that ranks among the maestro’s greatest works of the last decade. Scorsese clearly excels at translating true stories into film, as seen with his newest release, Killers of the Flower Moon . Like all narrative films based on true stories, The Wolf of Wall Street takes a few liberties with Jordan Belfort’s life and crimes, such as using Jonah Hill ’s Donnie Azoff character as a stand-in for multiple real-life friends of Belfort’s.

Overall, though, the film is remarkably accurate and certainly conveys the underlying truths of Belfort’s 2007 memoir, which was the primary source material for the film . Although the film is three hours long , some details and interesting subplots were unable to make the final cut. As we explore the real-life stories of some of the film’s principal characters, we’ll see where Scorsese’s film diverted from the truth, and we’ll understand the additional context that helps add complexity to this remarkable, hilarious, and tragic story.

The Wolf of Wall Street

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

Who Is the Real Jordan Belfort?

The overall story of Jordan Belfort ( Leonardo DiCaprio ) and his brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont, as presented in Scorsese’s film , is true to life. Belfort was violating probably hundreds of laws at any given time, most of which involved defrauding his shareholders and manipulating the stock of dozens of companies. He recruited young, mostly working-class kids from Long Island to work at Stratton and indoctrinated them into what he repeatedly calls, in his 2007 memoir, a “cult.” They were taught to worship at the altar of money and to con their clients into buying worthless stock. While all this was happening in his professional life, Belfort’s personal life was plagued by addictions to numerous illegal substances, primarily cocaine and Quaaludes. He cheated on his first wife with a woman nicknamed “The Duchess of Bay Ridge,” played by Margot Robbie in the film . He later married the Duchess, and they had a tumultuous relationship filled with deceit and abuse that ended in divorce. Eventually, Belfort was caught by the FBI and after serving 22 months in federal prison , became a writer and motivational speaker. His first memoir, The Wolf of Wall Street , was published in 2007.

Steven Spielberg Helped Martin Scorsese Direct This 'The Wolf of Wall Street' Scene

Steven Spielberg’s set visit lasted longer than expected!

Perhaps the biggest surprise to be found in Belfort’s memoir is that most of what is depicted in the film is true, at least according to Belfort’s best recollection. The copious amounts of drugs, the proliferation of sex workers, and rampant criminality are all depicted pretty accurately . Many of the more outrageous scenes in the film, such as when a female employee has her head shaved for $10,000, are true. Stratton Oakmont was notoriously depraved, but much of that depravity was inspired by existing financial institutions, some of them prestigious, others far less so. In other words, Belfort didn’t invent the practice of defrauding shareholders while snorting countless lines of cocaine, but he did engage in these illegal activities more frequently and ostentatiously than most.

Not All of 'The Wolf of Wall Street' Is Accurate, Though

One aspect of the film that accurately conveys Belfort’s mindset and perspective is its frequent use of fourth-wall-breaking narrations , in which Belfort speaks directly to the camera/audience . In his book, Belfort writes, “It was as if my life was a stage, and the Wolf of Wall Street was performing for the benefit of some imaginary audience.” Of course, that audience turned out to be real. Perhaps it was this idea of playing a character that led Belfort to dub himself the “Wolf of Wall Street.” There is scant evidence that anyone referred to him by that moniker until after the publication of his book. Belfort makes it seem throughout his memoir that people constantly called him “The Wolf” but that appears to be, at best, a creative embellishment.

In an effort to perhaps make Belfort seem a bit less crazed than his on-screen persona, it should be mentioned that despite the film citing “back pain” in air quotes as a reason for his drug habit, Belfort really did have constant back issues that required multiple surgeries. He would often use his health problems as a partial excuse for abusing various substances, but the film downplays his reliance on pharmaceuticals to alleviate his chronic pain . Belfort also wasn’t reckless or dumb enough to attempt to bribe an FBI agent, as depicted in the film. Belfort never even interacted with the FBI agent pursuing him until he was arrested.

One especially dramatic moment in Scorsese's unhinged biopic that is only partially true is when Belfort gives a speech to his employees, informing them that he is stepping down as leader and handing over the reins to Jonah Hill’s character Donnie. Then, mid-speech, he decides to reverse course and screams “ I’m not fucking leaving!” to rapturous applause. In reality, Belfort did step down but heavily implied in his speech that he would still be running Stratton from the sidelines by giving “advice” to Donnie’s real-life counterpart. Of course, once Belfort relinquished control, Stratton went on a downward spiral from which it would never recover.

Jonah Hill's Donnie Azoff Is Based on Danny Porush

Donnie Azoff is based on a real person named Danny Porush, who was Belfort’s right-hand man at Stratton and apparently an out-of-control Quaalude addict. Porush was introduced to Belfort through his wife. He was not, as the film depicts, a children’s furniture salesman who quit his job to work for Belfort when he saw one of Belfort’s pay stubs. In an interview with Mother Jones , Porush denied that several events depicted in the film ever happened, including the infamous dwarf-tossing scene (an idea that was seemingly shot down by Belfort for being too outrageous). He also confirmed to Mother Jones that nobody at the firm ever actually referred to Belfort as “The Wolf” or “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

Although the film depicts Donnie as being resuscitated by Belfort after choking on food while under the influence of Quaaludes, it was actually another friend of Belfort’s whose life was saved when Belfort performed CPR on him. Porush similarly was not aboard Belfort’s yacht when it capsized and sank during a storm (that was another group of friends, all of whom were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard). Porush did, however, admit to eating an employee’s goldfish in order to send a message. Amazingly, it’s also true that Porush married his first cousin and brought Belfort to a crack den. He spent 20 months in prison after the FBI unraveled Stratton’s schemes .

'The Wolf of Wall Street's Steve Madden Turned Criminal

Steve Madden ( Jake Hoffman ), the famous shoe designer, was childhood friends with Danny Porush and was roped into his old friend’s lawlessness ( Madden would end up being sentenced to 41 months in prison ). While Madden has a relatively quick cameo in the film, he looms much larger in Belfort’s memoir. Madden was actually personally and professionally closer to Belfort than he was to Porush. According to Belfort, Madden even offered to co-run his shoe company with Belfort , with Madden focusing on designing shoes and Belfort focusing on the manufacturing and distribution side of the business. After leaving Stratton, Belfort worked for Madden for a while until their relationship soured. Then the FBI took them both down. Madden ultimately was convicted of stock manipulation, money laundering, and securities fraud.

Who Is Chester Ming's Real-Life Counterpart?

The merry band of misfits and former weed dealers that make up the core Stratton staff are mostly based on real people, but their exact work histories and relationships to Belfort are either simplified or omitted from the film. The Chester Ming ( Kenneth Choi ) character, for example, is based on a real person named Victor Wang , who had a much more interesting role to play in Belfort’s memoir than in the film . Victor wanted to start his own firm and was thus viewed with suspicion by Belfort. It turns out the suspicion was justified. Within days of forming his own business, Victor began spreading rumors that Stratton was on the verge of collapse. He later started poaching Stratton stockbrokers who preferred to work at Victor’s firm in Manhattan over Belfort’s firm on Long Island . Unbeknownst to Victor, Belfort was “waging a secret war” against him the whole time, which resulted in Victor’s new firm going belly up. It's also true that Victor assaulted Belfort’s butler and dangled him out of a window. Victor ended up being sentenced to eight years in prison.

Bo Dietl Appears in 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' 'The Irishman,' & 'Goodfellas'

Bo Dietl is a private investigator and former New York mayoral candidate with a long history of popping up in Scorsese’s films. Dietl appeared in Goodfellas as the detective who arrested Henry Hill and was cast in a memorable supporting role in The Irishman . Believe it or not, Dietl actually knew Belfort and berated him for plotting a scheme to bug the FBI. Dietl also introduced Belfort to an FBI agent, dug up some information about the FBI’s investigation into Stratton Oakmont, and helped keep alleged Mob members and other troublemakers from causing any problems at Belfort’s firm. Dietl ended up playing himself in The Wolf of Wall Street .

Tommy Chong Was Cellmates With Jordan Belfort in Prison

Perhaps the oddest fact concerning The Wolf of Wall Street is that Belfort’s cellmate in prison was none other than Tommy Chong , the legendary stoner and actor. In an interview with New York Magazine , Belfort credited Chong with inspiring him to write a memoir. Chong apparently found Belfort to be endlessly entertaining. “The Quaalude stories are my favorite,” Chong told New York Magazine .

The Wolf of Wall Street is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Watch on Paramount+

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20 facts you might not know about 'The Wolf of Wall Street'

Martin Scorsese has made many movies about crime and criminals. Oftentimes, he’s dealing with the mob. Think movies like “Goodfellas” and “Casino.” However, there are other kinds of criminals. That is at the center of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” a film that is vulgar and bracing even by the standards of Scorsese. Some bristled at it. Others love it. However you feel, here are 20 facts about Scorsese’s white-collar-crime epic.

The movie is based on a memoir

Believe it or not, “The Wolf of Wall Street” is based on a true story. Specifically, it’s based on a memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort, the main character of the film as well. After getting out of prison for assorted instances of fraud and other malfeasance, Belfort wrote his book.

DiCaprio was on the project before Scorsese

In this instance, crime paid, as there was a bidding war for “The Wolf of Wall Street” after Belfort’s book was published. In the end, Leonardo DiCaprio joined forces with Warner Bros. in 2007 to win the bidding war with a $1 million payout. At this point, Scorsese would get involved, but it was a tumultuous ride.

Scorsese left the project before returning

Scorsese was doing some work on the screenplay, and DiCaprio wanted him to direct the movie. However, Warner Bros. wouldn’t give them the green light. Fed up, Scorsese left the project to work on another film, “Shutter Island.” That one would also star DiCaprio, funnily enough. Ridley Scott was then in talks to direct, but eventually, Warner Bros. abandoned the project altogether, leaving the rights open again.

The eventual production company had legal issues of its own

With Warner Bros. off the project, the independent production company Red Granite Pictures bought the rights and offered carte blanche from a content perspective. They were a brand new company at the time, as they got the rights in 2012, the same year Red Granite released their first film, “Friends with Kids.” However, Red Granite has been mired in controversy since the heyday of “The Wolf of Wall Street.” It was alleged that company co-founder Riza Aziz had illegally siphoned money from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad. The United States Department of Justice brought a civil lawsuit against Red Granite, who paid $60 million to settle. They have not produced a movie since.

Belfort purportedly toned down his life story

The film is perhaps not as graphic as Belfort’s memoir, but to hear Belfort tell it things could have been even crazier. He claims that his publisher Random House asked him to tone his book down before they would publish it. Of course, this is also a guy who says he was on 22 different drugs at one point and who, you know, went to prison for fraud. Take what he says with a grain of salt.

A lot of names were changed for the movie

When writing his memoir, Belfort used real names. For the film, though, some of the names were changed. This allowed Scorsese some artistic license, plus unsurprisingly some people did not want their names affiliated with the story. Particularly, Jonah Hill’s character Donnie Azoff is not specifically a real person, though he is reportedly based on Danny Porush, who threatened to sue if his name was used. Weirdly, Hill also played a fake version of a real person in “Moneyball.”

Jonah Hill had a modest payday

By the time he was filming “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Hill was already a star. He was not paid like one for the movie, though. In spite of being ostensibly the second lead, Hill got only $60,000 for the movie. This was the minimum he could be paid per SAG-AFTRA. DiCaprio, meanwhile, got $10 million.

Mary Poppins was almost in the movie

“The Wolf of Wall Street” is a hard R movie if there ever was one. And yet, it almost featured one of the seemingly sweetest actors out there. Julie Andrews was offered the role of Aunt Emma, but she was recovering from an ankle injury. Instead, Joanna Lumley took the role.

This was the breakout film for Margot Robbie

Robbie is a big star now, but back in 2013, this was not the case. Prior to 2013, she was best known for her role in the Australian soap opera “Neighbours.” A couple of months before “The Wolf of Wall Street” came out she technically made her American film debut in “About Time,” but her turn as Naomi was definitely her breakout performance to many.

The actors snorted a lot of fake powder

Belfort and his friends consume a lot of drūgs, especially cocāine. They were Wall Street guys, after all. In place, the production used Vitamin D powder for snorting scenes. Not that it was without health risks. Hill got bronchitis from all the Vitamin D snorting. At least he didn’t have to worry about rickets.

There is a lot of swearing in the movie

“The Wolf of Wall Street” has sex and drugs, naturally, but it also has a ton of swearing. In fact, it set a new Guinness World Record for the most swearing in a movie. They used the f-word 569 times alone, which averages out to 2.81 times per minute. The record now belongs to the Canadian film “Swearnet: The Movie.”

The movie was a big commercial success

As a truly raunchy film about amoral people, the success of “The Wolf of Wall Street” was not a given. However, it kind of needed to be, given that it cost $100 million to make. Fortunately, the combo of Scorsese and DiCaprio worked again. The film made $392 million worldwide. In fact, it’s Scorsese’s highest-grossing movie ever.

The film got five Oscar nominations

When the Academy Awards rolled around, “The Wolf of Wall Street” was not overlooked. It got five nominations, including some of the big ones. Scorsese was up for Best Director, DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor, Hill got a look for Best Supporting Actor, and the movie was also up for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. However, it went home with zero wins.

Matthew McConaughey’s scene borrowed from real life

McConaughey is barely in the film, but he makes quite an impact. In fact, the scene where he pounds his chest and hums featured prominently in the promotion of the film. This wasn’t in the script. In fact, it was an actual thing McConaughey did to warm himself up when acting. DiCaprio and Scorsese decided to work it into the movie.

Three acclaimed directors are in the cast

Scorsese is an extremely successful director, but he’s not the only one associated with the movie. There are a few noteworthy directors with acting roles in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Marvel bigwig Jon Favreau has a role, and Rob Reiner played Jordan’s dad. Meanwhile, Spike Jonze has an uncredited role early in the movie as well.

A famous actor’s son is in the cast

Steve Madden is one of the few notable names not changed for the movie, and he’s played by Jake Hoffman. If you recognize that last name, you are on the right track. Hoffman is indeed the son of Dustin Hoffman. He also has a role in another Scorsese film, “The Irishman.”

One stunt could only be done once

During the section of the movie where Belfort is out of his mind on Quaaludes, Scorsese and DiCaprio did some improvising. One of the things they improvised was Jordan opening his car door with his foot. However, DiCaprio hurt his back during that, so they could only film that stunt once.

The screenwriter had some useful first-hand experience

Terence Winter is the credited screenwriter on the movie. That makes sense, and he and Scorsese have a working history, as Winter created “Boardwalk Empire.” Prior to getting into writing, though, Winter worked as a lawyer in New York for a couple of years. In fact, he even worked as a legal assistant at Merrill Lynch in their trading department. That likely helped him in the writing of “Wolf of Wall Street.”

Jonah Hill put a real goldfish in his mouth

Hill was dedicated to his craft and wanted to actually eat a real goldfish in the movie. However, animal cruelty laws on films prohibited him from doing that. Instead, Hill was only allowed to keep the goldfish in his mouth for three seconds under the watchful eyes of animal handlers.

The real Belfort is in the movie as well

At the end of the movie, Belfort is out of prison and working as a motivational speaker. This was true for the real Belfort as well. Speaking of the actual man, he appears in that final scene as the man who introduces his cinematic doppelganger. This is, obviously, controversial. It’s one thing to buy a guy’s life story and make a movie about him that largely condemns his lifestyle choices. It’s another to actually have him in the film as well.

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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How a Martin Scorsese Movie Was Unknowingly Funded Through Fraud

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You don't need to have seen The Wolf of Wall Street to know the life of an international tycoon ain't all it's cracked up to be. Jho Low would know, he lived the fantasy and is now paying the price. Creeping his way into the heart of Hollywood through the sheer power of money, and the influence it purchases, Low became the ultimate celebrity magnet in the early 2010s.

Living it up, the Malaysian businessman established himself as the guy to get things done. If you needed a cash infusion to get your film project off the ground, you made a beeline to his yacht. Through Red Granite Pictures — co-owned by the stepson of the former Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak — he benefited from his unique place in the Malaysian government to build his empire, channeling dough into the hands of Hollywood nobility.

Jho Low Got The Wolf of Wall Street Off the Ground

The wolf of wall street.

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2013's The Wolf of Wall Street marked the high point in Low's career, breathing life into a floundering movie no one else had the guts to greenlight . It's an uncomfortable truth that no film gets made without money — lots of it. That particular resource is the lifeblood of the entertainment industry and is the very reason Hollywood can shrug off $100 million losses and filmmakers everywhere else need to beg for government grants and subsidies.

Yes, even rich people need to plead for money. Financiers are secretly the most pivotal players in the film world. With enough cash, anyone can buy respect, class, friends, political connections, and the adoration of Victoria's Secret supermodels. The caliber of people hurling themselves at Low's feet, groveling for his attention, was comical but also alarming.

Of course, there was a catch. Low was a crook . Corruption, bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering to fund a narcissist, international playboy's lifestyle of supermodel-filled yachts? Sounds like a great movie. And like every film you've ever seen, the feds eventually spoiled this party too.

After the Oscar ceremonies and gala premieres died down, we learned that Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio inadvertently teamed up with an international conman robbing his country blind . Does crime pay? Well, we're not going to lie. So far, it seems to have paid off nicely for Low, but that could change. This is the pathetic ballad of Jho Low, the man who would do anything to rub elbows with the world's elites, and got away with it. Jordan Belfort, eat your heart out.

The Mysterious Malaysian Mogul Who Made It Rain

Jho Low's producing credits before 2013 were brief and unspectacular, peaking with The Wolf of Wall Street and Dumb and Dumber To . Without his finagling behind the scenes, there was a good chance neither one would hit the red carpet. You are probably asking how a film director like Martin Scorsese could struggle to get money to get his films produced. Truth is, he barely got Silence or The Irishman completed either. He and DiCaprio always seem to get stuck in development hell .

The substance of his work (violence, cursing, religious themes, and extended run-times) doesn't jibe with mainstream studios in search of safe, marketable (read: bland) content with broad appeal. Recalling his conversation with Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio told Vulture in 2013, "Larger-scale, R-rated dramas, like Blood Diamond or The Departed , don’t really get financed anymore." He spoke too soon. Stepping up to save the day, Red Granite agreed to supply the money , with no demands to soften the R-rating to PG-13, a decision that preserved the raw edge Scorsese needed.

No one at the time was fazed by an obscure figure materializing out of nowhere with endless pockets full of cash to distribute like Halloween candy. Insanely wealthy foreign financiers heaving stacks of money around is nothing new. Glance only at the Saudi Arabian Cultural Development Fund, which recently dumped resources upon filmmakers in the region, the conservative country even getting into bed with the WWE of all people.

Low played by his own rules. It turns out, he had a lot in common with The Wolf of Wall Street protagonist he brought to life, Jordan Belfort. His frat-boy lifestyle revolved around his yacht and lots of booze . Low's primary hobby, besides champagne, diamonds, boating, and film, was networking. He contracted celebrities to be his friends and attend his lavish yacht parties, the extent of which extended past film opportunities. Allegedly, he used his wealth to obtain some sick jewelry for his model girlfriend, Miranda Kerr. Overnight, Low was the most daring and intriguing producer in the biz. Unfortunately, the money wasn't his.

The Jho Low Ship Runs Aground

Here's how the con job worked. Making the best of his connections with the prime minister, he came up with the idea of an investment trust in 2009. Soon billions were being illegally transferred from Malaysian investment accounts to Red Granite (they denied all knowledge of Low’s scheme, naturally) over a six-year period. The slush fund was supposed to help prop up the infrastructure and services of Malaysia, but Low obtained access to the cash through his friendship with the PM , and the two used the coffer as their personal piggy bank. Malaysians were not happy when they found out their money was bankrolling Daddy's Home .

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad, better known simply as 1MDB, estimated $4.5 billion was pilfered. The conspirators extended to influential parties within the Malaysian elite. Prime Minister Najib Razak was among those tried and found guilty of ripping off their constituents through an intricate laundering scheme that shuffled lucre from one nation to another. According to US government spokespeople, it was the biggest seizure in the history of the Department of Justice . Riza Aziz, a fellow Wolf of Wall Street producer, was also involved in the investigation. He was implicated in the theft and laundering by the DOJ , according to Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt:

"Aziz and his co-conspirators allegedly diverted these funds for their own benefit and used them to acquire luxury real estate in New York and London and to make personal investments. The forfeiture of these assets will add to the almost $1.1 billion stolen from 1MDB that the U.S. Department of Justice has so far helped recover and return to the Malaysian people."

Those astute out there will recall that laundering money to make films is not a novel idea and that many criminals and underworld syndicates have waded into the movie-producing business over the years. Sometimes with very ugly results . However, this takes it to a whole new level. Money stolen was then funneled into films and underwriting the mogul's crime spree, paying famous people to attend his yacht parties on his $250 million luxury boat, where the likes of Emily Ratajkowski, Kylie Jenner, and Kim Kardashian twerked with the wannabe Jay Gatsby for their turn at his money — make that the Malaysians' money. His motive was as simple as it was sad. He wanted people to like him , thus developing the habit of paying models and famous individuals to take photo ops with him, as reported by Fortune . It worked.

Movies That Were Actually Financed by the Mafia and Gangsters

Hollywood has had some deep ties to the mob and organized crime, with some films actually being funded and produced by mafia members.

From First-Class Swag to Fugitive Status

Low's exploits weren't limited to models, actors, and hard-up directors in search of financiers. Thinking big, Low used his contacts with his then-buddy, Leo DiCaprio, to try and get access to the American president at the time, Barack Obama. In court, the Wolf of Wall Street actor testified that Low was in talks to give large donations, rumored to be upwards of $30 million, to the Obama re-election campaign in 2012, buying access to the most powerful man on the planet .

One to play every side, Low even allegedly reached out to Trump family members in a bid to help him when 1MDB scandal broke. He'd sadly never get the chance to leverage that influence as his operation exploded in his face. 1MDB is defunct, his buddies in the Malaysian government are disgraced, his ex-squeeze Kerr was forced to part with her jewelry as part of the forfeiture, all of Low's chums disowned him after he was found guilty in a trial in absentia, and Red Granite ceased producing films as of 2017. Scorsese's sugar daddy is now out of the picture, so don't cross your fingers for that Sinatra biopic .

10 Things You May Not Know About The Wolf of Wall Street

Among 569 F-bombs, The Wolf of Wall Street has some very intriguing facts about Jordan Belfort, his addictions, and his business Stratton Oakmont.

As of writing, Low is still on the lam, on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars. The sale of Basquiat, Warhol, Picasso, and Monet paintings is only a drop in the bucket of what was confiscated in the aftermath of the embezzlement scheme. Earlier this year, a documentary was released titled Man on the Run , all about Low and his co-conspirator Razak. Featured in the documentary are the whistle-blower who exposed the con and the journalist who reported the scandal, Clare Rewcastle Brown.

As his celebrity status exploded, Low, ironically, has been forced to keep his head down and live a modest life. Low maintained enough connections with corrupt government officials to evade multiple authorities across the globe . Rumors place the mastermind in Macau. Cash stashed away for a rainy day, Low's still got some friends willing to protect him. Though he is now traveling by more conventional means. Equanimity, his gaudy floating mansion, is currently on the market. For $250 million, this piece of film/legal history can be yours, bent politicians and socialites-for-rent sold separately.

• Leonardo DiCaprio