Life of the Rich and Dysfunctional – as Jordan Belfort calls himself and all the people around him. This is a story of a stock broker in the 90’s who became a multimillionaire at a tender age of 26 but also became a federal convict by the age of 36. He is also an excellent story teller, the way he has written his story is awesomely well. On the cover he writes – I partied like a rock star and lived like a king. When you read the first few pages you will know exactly what he means. A real spoilt brat he became once the money started flowing in easily. This book was first published in 2007 and it became an instant bestseller.
Alert: This book has extensive usage of abusive and vulgar language.
A movie with the same tittle is about to release this year (November 15, 2013) where Jordan’s role is played by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. Yes, here’s the trailer:
Jordan was the founder of a brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont where he used the boiler room concept to sell penny stocks to high net worth individuals over phone calls made by highly skilled sales people having the gift of gab. Everybody on the floor (100 or so) were earning millions of dollars and money literally used to flow like water in this office. Jordon also used a lot of stock market manipulation techniques to earn more millions, was involved in multiple IPO’s, investments in friend’s companies, under the table partnerships for helping his friends brokerage firms and what not.
But this was a smaller problem compared to drug addict he eventually became and started losing everything. The types and the amount of drug intake he used to do each day could scare a giant as well. Once he got his private jet flown for a few packs of drugs when he was in London. This is just a small example, the kind of insanity you will read in this book will spin your head.
He married twice and divorced twice and was about to marry a third time but thankfully did not. He has 2 children from the 2nd marriage – Nadine whom he calls Duchess. His yacht was also named after her, it sank in the Italian coast in high storm conditions, the way it has been described in the book, none of them should have been alive! Italian Special Forces saved them all. The yacht went down the sea bed that day.
There is enough description of how rich he was and how much he (and his wife) used to spend (read waste) on things not really needed. It is also said that Jordan actually wrote a 1500 pager but then it was condensed to a 520 pager. Thank god for that since at times it did really feel like a drag. Many a events in the book was explained in too detail, which was not really needed. Guess it would have been done with in 350 pages, at max. But then now you have a choice of not reading the book at all, you can watch the movie instead! But then I would really insist you read it. But do not tell me I did not warn you would be language. He is an awesome story teller, no doubts.
He was sent to the Re-hab for his drug habit. His wife divorced her but he still meets both his children – Chandler and Carter.
You can buy the book from Amazon
Wonderfully written review of a brilliant movie. 🙂
Thank you but I have reviewed just the book for now! 🙂 Am sure the movie will be much much much more thrilling and much less of abusive language! 🙂 I will watch it first day first show, for sure! 🙂