The Wolf of Wall Streetis one ofMartin Scorsese’s most memorable and wildest movies. It’s widely regarded as the bible for people who are into Wall Street and finance, though that shouldn’t be such a good thing.Jordan Belfort, who is the inspirationfor the movie, isstill active and does motivational speaking and panels on business ethics, where he recounts his old mistakes and former glory.
Belfort is portrayed brilliantly byLeonardo DiCaprioinThe Wolf of Wall Street, which was adapted from Belfort’s autobiography of the same name. However,Belfort isn’t the only colorful and memorable character in that story. The best characters inThe Wolf of Wall Streetportray what it’s like to be in Belfort’s company and what it was like to be a part of his wild “origin” 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.
10Jean-Jacques Saurel
Played by Jean Dujardin
Jean Dujardin, fresh offhis Oscar win for Best ActorinThe Artist, was a part of several Hollywood productions at the time. ToThe Wolf of Wall Street, hebrings an effortless European cool and a subtle but sly witto the role ofJean-Jacques Saurel. Saurel is the sort of “respectable” criminal with charm and deep pockets who could swindle you while smiling and looking into your eyes; Dujardin, charming and good-looking himself, was the perfect casting choice.
Saurel is the sort of “respectable” criminal with charm and deep pockets…
Saurel is the suave, corrupt Swiss banker who helps Jordan open a Swiss bank account in the name of his wife Nicole’s (Margot Robbie) aunt, Emma (Joanna Lumley). Saurel represents Belfort’s efforts to go international, digging his money-laundering scheme further down a hole. Unlike Belfort, who is twitchy and nervous,Saurel has a calm demeanor, showing that businesses like his need a cool head. Or, as they say, “cooler heads prevail.” Of course, Saurel was arrested nevertheless and he ratted out Belfort in a heartbeat.
9Teresa Petrillo
Played by Cristin Milioti
Cristin Miliotimay be on the rise right now, but her acting career spans over a decade.Milioti’s distinct features and great acting talent help her stand outamong her castmates, and so did her performance and appearance asTeresa PetrilloinThe Wolf of Wall Street. Teresa is Belfort’s first wife in the movie, and she represents the “before”—a more grounded, though still materialistic, life. Milioti perfectly captures her transformation and journey from a warm partner to someone heartbroken and discarded.
Teresa is the first true victim of the human cost of Belfort’s relentless ambition.
Teresa brings a more humane side of Belfort out; we see through her that he was once a human with ambition who just needed a break.Milioti portrays her so that viewers are able to feel for heras Jordan’s world, and his affections, slowly slip away from her. Teresa is the first true victim of the human cost of Belfort’s relentless ambition. Teresa represents the real-life Denise Lombardo, Jordan Belfort’s first wife, who he admitted in his book that he treated poorly and that his behavior towards her was “inexcusable.” He also wrote that she stuck with him through his lowest and highest days, but his affair with Nadine Caridi sealed the deal for Denise.
Played by Jon Bernthal
We all knowJon Bernthalis the best. Charming, likable, and greatly talented,Bernthal is often put in action rolesbut rarely gets the chance to shine as a comedic talent. He does so inThe Wolf of Wall StreetasBrad Bodnick, The Quaalude King of Bayside, where his ridiculous and intense arguments with Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) escalate into one of the funniest scenes in the entire movie.Bernthal nails that aggressive, street-smart energy Bodnick possesses, and he is intimidating and kind of clueless at the same time.
He’s often hilariously out of his depth but remains fiercely loyal to Belfort…
Bodnick is the quintessential small-time drug dealer and tough guy. He’s often hilariously out of his depth but remains fiercely loyal to Belfort, despite being annoyed by Donnie most of the time. His fight with Donnie in the street, which ends with him dropping his gun and getting arrested, shows the less glamorous side of Belfort’s associates—despite being comedy gold. There’s not much information about Brad’s real-life counterpart, thoughhe was based on Belfort’s quaalude dealer, Todd Garrett, who Belfort said sold him “around 10,000 quaaludes.”
7Aunt Emma
Played by Joanna Lumley
Nicole’s aunt Emma, portrayed by theabsolutely fabulous(pun intended) Joanna Lumley, is one of the best characters inThe Wolf of Wall Street, simply because ofLumley’s unparalleled comedic timing and sophistication. Aunt Emma is similar to Lumley in that way, though we’re not sure what Lumley would really think about money-laundering schemes for her niece’s husband. Still, Emma is one of the coolest and most unexpected characters inThe Wolf of Wall Streetand deserves some recognition.
Her proper demeanor is always in contrast with her willingness to be a part of illicit activities for her family.
Aunt Emma is a British aristocrat living in London andBelfort’s unlikeliest accomplice to his money-laundering schemes. Her proper demeanor is always in contrast with her willingness to be a part of illicit activities for her family. This is often as amusing as it is troublesome, and Aunt Emma’s involvement presents a critical plot point for the Swiss scheme with Saurel. Lumley was the second choice for aunt Emma; the first offer was extended toJulie Andrews, who backed out because of an ankle injury. Emma has a real-life counterpart in Patricia Caridi, Nadine Caridi’s real aunt.
Played by Rob Reiner
Max Belfort, aka Mad Max, is Jordan Belfort’s father, portrayed byRob Reinerin the movie. His name wasn’t changed for the sake of the narrative, nor was his mother’s.Jordan’s father was his firm’s (Stratton Oakmont) accountant, CFO,and the closest thing to a moral compass (which was often ignored). Reiner is perfect as the perpetually stressed-out Max, aka “Mad Max.” He probably became mad due to all that yelling and the incessant schemes his son put him through.
Reiner is perfect as the perpetually stressed-out Max, aka “Mad Max.”
Max Belfort (and Reiner as Belfort) embodies the old-school, slightly more ethical businessman (in comparison), expressing horror towards the excess he continuously witnesses. His constant exasperation, rage, and attempts to rein in the insanity displays at Stratton Oakmont areas much of a comic relief as they are paternal instincts and concernsfor a child. At one point, we do start to feel for “Mad Max,” who only wishes for his son’s activities to be more legitimate and less chaotic.
5Mark Hanna
Played by Matthew McConaughey
Despite very limited screen time,Mark Hanna—or more specifically,Matthew McConaugheyas Mark Hanna—steals the show and delivers arguably the most iconic and defining speechof the movie. McConaughey is mesmerizing as Hanna, with hischest-thumping, cocaine-snorting, amoral monologuewith humming. The most memorable scene in the movie belongs to him and this moment, but it also sets the tone for the entire movie, defining Belfort, for whom this was the defining moment.
…Hanna is the embodiment of a cynical, drug-fueled Wall Street dweller…
As Belfort’s first mentor and boss on Wall Street, Hanna is the embodiment of a cynical, drug-fueled Wall Street dweller who considers everything “fugazi” and passes on that attitude to Belfort, who later embraces and takes “fugazi” to an extreme. Hanna’s name was left the same as in real life; he was, like Belfort, arrested and served time in prison for fraud.As a force of nature, McConaughey manages to deliver a scene-stealing performance, but he doesn’t make Hanna any more likable than he might have been in real life, since it’s not really about that.
4Patrick Denham
Played by Kyle Chandler
Kyle Chandlercan’t ever play a bad guy, or at least he couldn’t be as convincing. Something about his all-American appearance and charisma oozes good guy roles, and inThe Wolf of Wall Street,he portrays the ultimate good guy in the eyes of the law—an FBI agent. AsPatrick Denham, Chandler brings the grounded, everyman integrity and determination of a law enforcement officer to the film. He’s persistent, methodical, and a formidable “antagonist” to Belfort’s narrative.
…Chandler brings the grounded, everyman integrity and determination of a law enforcement officer to the film.
Patrick Denham was based on real-life Greg Coleman; Chandler presents him as the dogged and incorruptible FBI agent, determined to bring Belfort down. He is a sort of moralcounterweight to Belfort’s hedonism and embodies the foreshadowing threat of justice. Every interaction between Chandler and DiCaprio in their roles is charged with tension and presents a power struggle between their characters. Denham is there to remind us that the luxury, glamor, and lavishness of Belfort’s lifestyle aren’t as commendable or easygoing as he makes it look.
3Naomi Lapaglia
Played by Margot Robbie
Naomi Lapaglia isone of the most memorable charactersinThe Wolf of Wall Street, mainly because of Margot Robbie. Without Robbie’s dedication and some risks (like full-frontal nudity), Naomi wouldn’t be half as electrifying and appealing. She’s in her early 20s, young, fit, sexy, and seductive, but also strong, explosive, ambitious, and steely. So, not just a pretty face—style and substance exists within Naomi and Robbie as Naomi. She was based on Nadine Caridi (now Macaluso), who confirmed that large parts of her relationship with Belfort were depicted pretty accurately, though the movieserves Belfort’s memory the most.
Naomi Lapaglia, like Caridi, is referred to by the press as “The Duchess of Bay Ridge.” While she’s a lingerie designer and a shrewd and ambitious woman,she is merely the embodiment of the success and allure that Belfort craves. After divorcing Teresa, Belfort marries Naomi, and their relationship is ideal until it no longer is. Naomi ends up leaving Belfort, asking for divorce and full custody of their children. Caridi also divorced Belfort and is now a psychotherapist and relationship coach, teaching young women about signs of abusive patterns in romantic relationships.
2Donnie Azoff
Played by Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill’s career took a turn for the better after he displayed his acting chops inThe Wolf of Wall Street. Indeed,the role of Donnie Azoff is complex and no one would’ve put Hill as their first choiceat the time; however, Hill not only nailed his role but completely transformed into the sleazy, subservient man who is Belfort’s friend and right-hand man. Azoff is depicted as having sudden and intense bursts of mania and as a quaalude-addicted decision-maker. Of course, Hill’s physical comedy prowess and comedic timing made Azoff a lot more hilarious and outrageous (though the real guy wasn’t at all different).
…Hill not only nailed his role but completely transformed into the sleazy, subservient man who is Belfort’s friend and right-hand man.
One of Azoff’s most characteristic parts is his dentures. His teeth are so prominent and ill-fitting that they describe a lot of Azoff’s personality without him ever having to say a word. He is loyal to Belfort in a depraved way,hilariously vulgar, lacks any conscience, and provides much of the film’s darkest humor.Donnie Azoff was based on real-life Danny Porush, though Porush denies Azoff being anything like him. He even threatened to sue the filmmakers and producers.
1Jordan Belfort
Played by Leonardo DiCaprio
The wolf himself, Jordan Belfort, would be tough not to include as the best and most magnetic character in the movie that was made entirely about him. Leonardo DiCaprio was, in that perspective,the ideal choice to portray Belfort, as DiCaprio himself is often in the news for engaging in lavish parties and sometimes eccentric behavior.DiCaprio gives one of his most iconic and energetic performances as Belfort, committing to his every facet. In a movie that’s chaotic and relentless,DiCaprio is the powerhouse and the enginethat fuels it. The scene when he overdoses on quaaludes and crawls to his car also shows DiCaprio as a comedic talent.
Belfort is a charismatic leader, a gifted salesman, a master manipulator, and,frankly, a total sicko.Viewers can’t help but be drawn into his world, even when they’re totally repulsedby his actions. The rise and fall of Jordan Belfort, documented with some exaggeration and a lot of truth, is an epic tale of modern excess. WhenWarner Bros.had the rights to Belfort’s story, their idea was forBrad Pittto play Belfort. However, DiCaprio turned out to be the best option, because without him, the movie wouldn’t be the same.
