Jordan Belfort was the founder of Stratton Oakmont, a brokerage firm located in Long Island wherein wild parties took place on a daily basis, surrounded by hookers and drug dealers, amongst other things. Jordan made millions of dollars on a daily basis by manipulating Americans into falsely investing with him.
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His life of mansions, yachts, parties and servants has been replaced with a life that awaits him behind bars. Guilty of securities fraud and having illegally transferred funds offshore, the FBI chased him down until they managed to find enough evidence to inculpate him. Being faced with the fact that his wife Nadine holds a lot of resentment as a result of his actions against her, i.e., sleeping with hookers and pushing her down a flight of stairs, and wants a divorce; that he may never see his children again; and that he now has to betray his old friends to save himself a few years in prison, Jordan looks deep into his soul and finally acknowledges his wrongdoings and becomes determined to make things right - for the sake of love and family.
Throughout the book, Jordan takes us on the very first day he got caught, up to his obligation that he was facing to cooperate with the FBI - at the expense of his close relationships. He has to revisit his old life in details in front of an audience, i.e., lawyers and FBI agents, who don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth and doubt that a corrupt man like Jordan can indeed cooperate. Despite not wanting to go down this road, Jordan keeps his children in mind and for their sake, he agrees to trick, and testify against, his friends.
Jordan loses his friends very quickly and finds himself alone. Nadine refuses to stay married with him despite his promises that he has changed and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the family together; she starts seeing other men and plans her own exit out of this life she once shared with Jordan. Jordan then goes to trial and before going to jail, he goes to see his ex-wife - who has finally come to her senses with respect to his important role of father - and children for the last time. He tells them he will be away for a while and will only be able to see them on visiting days but promises to move close to them as soon as he will be out of prison to never let them go.
In prison, Jordan reflects upon his actions and attempts to find new meaning to his life - which he finds in being the best father to his children and writing a book, which he wrote in the prison library. Jordan spent a total of twenty-two months in prison and one month in rehab. He then moved to Los Angeles to be closer to his children who had moved to California with their mother and new boyfriend.
Best part of story, including ending:
I liked this book because it is based on Jordan's life, and we can really see how Jordan has lost it all: friends, money and family. It is raw and there is no sugarcoating it.
Best scene in story:
Jordan falls asleep with his children in his arms and is perfectly happy even though he's lost everything else.
Opinion about the main character:
He finally comes to his senses and takes complete responsibility for his own actions. Having hit rock bottom and having lost it all, his priorities shift from power and income to love and family.
