30 Facts You Didn’t Know About The Wolf of Wall Street

I’ve Been a Rich Man, and I’ve Been a Poor Man, and I Choose Rich Every Time

The Wolf of Wall Street, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is known for its wild and uncensored display of evil and greed. Based on the memoir of Jordan Belfort, the film tells the story of his rise to power as a stockbroker and subsequent fall due to his illegal activities.

In this article, we’ll look at 30 facts you probably didn’t know about The Wolf of Wall Street. We’ll cover everything from the actors’ experiences on set to the historical events that inspired the film.

1. The real Jordan Belfort has a cameo in the film as a person introducing Dicaprio’s character at a conference.
2. The character of Donnie Azoff was based on Danny Porush, Belfort’s real-life partner in crime.
3. Jonah Hill had to have his prosthetic teeth adjusted several times during filming due to the discomfort they caused.
4. Margot Robbie had to learn to speak in a Brooklyn accent for her role as Naomi Lapaglia.
5. The Quaaludes that Dicaprio’s character takes in the movie were vitamin supplements.
6. The film’s budget was $100 million, with much of it going toward the elaborate party scenes.
7. The real Stratton Oakmont office was in Long Island, but the film used a set in Brooklyn.
8. The movie was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but won none.
9. Martin Scorsese originally wanted to shoot the film in 3D but ultimately decided against it.
10. Dicaprio had to gain weight for his role in the film, eating a high-calorie diet.
11. The movie was banned in Malaysia due to its depiction of excess and drug use.
12. The production used a real helicopter for the scene where Dicaprio’s character crashed it, resulting in a massive explosion.
13. The scene where Hill’s character eats a live goldfish caused controversy, with animal rights activists criticizing the production for using a real fish.
14. The film’s script contained over 200 F-bombs, many of which came from Dicaprio’s character.
15. Andrew Greene, who worked with notorious broker Jordan Belfort at Stratton Oakmont, sued the filmmakers for defamation of character, but the case was ultimately dismissed.
16. The movie’s original cut was over four hours long but was trimmed down to its final runtime of three hours.
17. Many of the extras in the film were hired from Craigslist, with some of them being paid as little as $100 for a day’s work.
18. The yacht Dicaprio’s character owns in the movie was rented from its real-life owner, who didn’t know what the movie was about.
19. The scenes set in Switzerland were filmed in Paris, France.
20. The real Jordan Belfort makes a cameo in the film’s final scene, where he introduces Dicaprio’s character at a seminar.
21. When Jordan Belfort teaches his team how to close a sale, he explains the importance of pauses to entice the customer to speak. “Whoever speaks first loses,” he says. Later on in the film, Belfort uses the same tactic when trying to bribe the FBI agents.
22. Donald Trump approached the producers and asked for a role in the film. He wanted to be a part of the movie and not just a walk-on, but the filmmakers couldn’t accommodate him as the run time was already nearing 4 hours.
23. The private investigator that Jordan Belfort hired, Bo Dietl, was played by the real man himself. Dietl served as Belfort’s head of security and personal PI back in the day.
24. Margot Robbie’s nudity in the seduction scene between Jordan Belfort and Naomi, initially Martin Scorsese felt it was good enough for Margot Robbie to wear a bathrobe, but Robbie thought it was important for the character.
25.  Matthew McConaughey’s chest-thumping was not part of the script at all. He did a warm-up routine before most takes, and DiCaprio noticed it and thought it would be a good idea to include it in the scene.
26. The scene where Jordan Belfort crashes his car while high on Quaaludes was based on a real-life incident that happened to Belfort, although in the film, it is exaggerated for comedic effect.
27. The character of Jordan Belfort’s father, played by Rob Reiner, was based on the real-life accountant and businessman Max Belfort, who significantly influenced his son’s career.
28. The film’s soundtrack features several classic rock songs from the 1970s and 80s, including hits by bands like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, favorites of the real-life Jordan Belfort.
29. Jonah Hill was paid only $60,000 for his Wolf of Wall Street role, which was the minimum amount he could make. While leading star Leonardo DiCaprio made $10 million for his performance as Jordan Belfort
30. In one scene, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jordan Belfort and his colleagues are seen tossing a little person at a target in a game of “dwarf tossing.” The actor who played the little person, Louis G. Lecoin, revealed in an interview that he performed the stunt himself and was filmed in one take. He also praised DiCaprio for his professionalism and kindness on set.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” is an incredibly unique and wild movie that pushed the boundaries of what’s allowed in the cinema. The uncensored display of partying, comedy, and excessive greed makes it entertaining and memorable. The film features outstanding performances from its cast, with Dicaprio and Hill delivering some of their best work. The behind-the-scenes facts we’ve explored provide insight into how the movie was made and the effort put into making it as authentic as possible. “The Wolf of Wall Street” is a must-watch for anyone who loves great movies, and it will continue to be a classic in the future. It’s a cautionary tale of greed, excess, and criminality, but the directory and actors make it entertaining to watch the story unfold.

Primary source video for the above facts here.