Top 10 differences between the real Wolf of Wall Street documentary and movie

Top 10 Differences Between The Real Wolf of Wall Street Documentary and Movie Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at differences between Martin Scorsese’s film and the docuseries, “The Real Wolf of Wall Street.”

#10: He Was Never Called “Wolf”

Whether working as a stockbroker, motivational speaker, or author, Jordan Belfort has always been a salesman at heart. Like the most successful salesmen, Belfort isn’t selling a product, but himself. As such, it only makes sense that Belfort would have a headline-grabbing nickname like the Wolf of Wall Street. Although this would provide the title of his memoir and subsequent feature film adaptation, Belfort was never called “wolf” according to his colleagues. Apparently, that’s not the only nickname that was invented. In the film, Jordan refers to fellow stockbroker Nicky Koskoff as “Rugrat,” due to his hairpiece. Andrew Greene, who Rugrat was supposedly based on, says that nobody ever called him that. Of course, that doesn’t mean Belfort didn’t use the name behind his back.

#9: Donnie Azoff Was a Composite Character

Donnie Azoff, Belfort’s right-hand man in the movie, is primarily based on Danny Porush, who threatened legal action if his real name was used. Although Porush has claimed that much about Azoff is fictionalized, it’s noted in the docuseries that he did indeed marry his first cousin. The kids are thankfully alright. According to Ross Portenoy, Porush wasn’t the sole inspiration for Azoff. There was also a fair amount of Howie Gelfand in the character. Gelfand confirmed this, saying that Donnie’s goldfish-eating stunt did happen. However, there were actually two goldfish. Porush ate one of them while Gelfand gulped down the other. Gelfand’s life was also one of heavy substance use, although he focuses more on the lows than the highs. Livestream CTA: We don’t have a pen, but we would like to sell you on WatchMojo’s 24/7 livestream. Scan the QR code on screen to join us live for nonstop pop culture chaos.

#8: No Sex Workers on the Plane

In some respects, Jordan Belfort’s real life was even wilder than what we saw in the movie. Other escapades were slightly embellished. As seen in the film, Belfort had his bachelor party in Las Vegas. According to Howie Gelfand, there were no sex workers on the flight as the movie suggests. Upon arriving, though, they were surrounded by sex workers. The film otherwise glances over what happened in Vegas, although Gelfand discussed a particularly graphic incident. At one point, a partygoer on quaaludes crawled under a glass table, asking one of the sex workers to defecate on it. It didn’t take long for him to find a volunteer. Had this been committed to screen, we imagine it would’ve triggered a few walkouts.

#7: How Money Was Smuggled

Smuggling has never been sexier. In “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Jordan and company try to conceive ways to smuggle money into Switzerland. Since Brad Bodnick’s wife Chantalle has a European passport, they tape wads of cash around her body. Chantalle can only carry so much, but she has other family members with passports. The docuseries paints a less alluring portrait. In reality, smuggling was more straightforward, with the money being put in locked bags. They apparently didn’t even carry the bags on, checking them at the airport. Belfort nonetheless managed to fly under the radar until everything inevitably came undone.

#6: When Belfort Met Denham

Gregory Coleman was the inspiration for FBI agent Patrick Denham, played by Kyle Chandler. Coleman did lead the investigation against Belfort, although there were other notable authority figures that the film largely neglects, such as federal prosecutor Joel Cohen. Denham’s dynamic with Belfort also deviates from Coleman’s pursuit of the so-called “wolf.” The film’s most memorable scene between Belfort and Denham is on the former’s yacht. This encounter never transpired, however. In fact, Coleman says he didn’t meet Belfort face to face until he was arrested. Coleman recalled approaching the handcuffed and possibly high Belfort, asking if he knew who he was. Despite being their first encounter, Belfort seemingly knew Coleman just as the FBI agent knew him.

#5: How Naomi Felt at the Wedding

The movie portrays Jordan and Naomi’s wedding as a fairytale, despite some apparent red flags. As far as Naomi is concerned, though, her dreams are coming true. Not everyone has a clear memory of that night, given the substances they were on, but Naomi Lapaglia remembers her wedding all too well. The night before their nuptials, an inebriated Belfort allegedly got into a big fight with his pregnant bride-to-be. While Lapaglia put on a smile the next day, she remembers feeling incredibly sad on the inside as they tied the knot. Although Lapaglia seemingly sensed that this marriage would bring her much trauma and therapy, she doesn’t regret meeting Belfort, as she otherwise wouldn’t have her children and grandchild.

#4: How Todd Garrett Got Busted

Todd Garrett provided the basis for Brad Bodnick, played by Jon Bernthal, the drug dealer who gets roped into Belfort’s money laundering schemes. In the movie, Bodnick gets arrested when a money exchange with an intoxicated Donnie goes off the rails. As hilarious as that is, it isn’t true to real life. Gregory Coleman claims that Porush and Garrett aroused suspicion without getting into an altercation. The guards called the police, who found Garrett and a suitcase of cash. Garrett wasn’t quick to squeal, but he wasn’t lying when he initially told the police that he needed a heart transplant. Joel Cohen essentially told Garrett’s attorney that if his client didn’t cooperate, he’d more than likely be taken off the donor list.

#3: Not Leaving Speech Never Happened

We can think of a few scenes from “The Wolf of Wall Street” that secured Leonardo DiCaprio an Oscar nomination. One such example comes in the third act when Belfort spontaneously declares in front of his colleagues that, despite his legal troubles, he isn’t going anywhere. Although it sounds like something Belfort would’ve done, the scene was completely fabricated according to several of his former associates. In real life, Belfort was barred and he quietly exited with Danny Porush taking his place. There wasn’t even a farewell speech. Belfort walked away with a large settlement, not putting up much of a fight. As the film does accurately depict, though, Belfort was never content with what he had, always wanting more.

#2: Different Perspectives

Despite serving time and losing a fair deal along the way, Jordan Belfort arguably faced no real consequences in the long run. If anything, he’s been doing better than ever since the movie came out. Even if it wasn’t the film’s intent, numerous young people want to be just like Belfort. The docuseries shifts perspective to his former friends and co-workers, who learned first-hand that Belfort isn’t a role model. While he came out on top, others were left broke, unemployed, grappling with substance use disorder, facing legal troubles, and living with PTSD. The harsh reality is that there’s only one Jordan Belfort. Yet, there are many like Howie Gelfand, Andrew Greene, Jordan Shamah, and Richard Bronson, who are still dealing with the fallout.

#1: Even More Excessive

“The Wolf of Wall Street” remains one of the most excessive movies we’ve ever seen, from the nudity, to the substance use, to the profanity, which broke a Guinness World Record. Even with all of this excess stretched out over three hours, many who lived it claim that the film doesn’t do their experiences justice. Authority figures like Gregory Coleman can also concur that the film only scratched the surface of Belfort’s insane lifestyle. To Belfort and his colleagues, it was another day at the office. Even if the film did accurately depict several of the wilder moments in Belfort’s life, there was apparently even more that didn’t make the cut. If only Scorsese had been permitted to make the film NC-17. What did you think of “The Real Wolf of Wall Street?” Let us know in the comments.