The Rise and Fall of Jordan Belfort Jordan Belfort was a natural businessman. He operated a meat and seafood business in the early 1980’s, but after that went bust, he began selling stocks and that’s where he became so successful! He started stock trading in 1987 and by 1990, was running his own investment company, Stratton Oakmont (Biography.com). He was on top of the world, making millions, investing in incredible assets, and living a fancy lifestyle. Then his world came crumbling down and no one was to blame other than himself. His first true business venture was selling Italian ice with a friend during the summer and due to his incredible salesmanship turned a $20,000 profit. Instead of using this money to buy something cool, being a teenager and all, he decided to use the profit for his next business venture. His first experience in a brokerage firm was as a “connector” at L.F. Rothschild. He saw how much money his fellow brokers were bring in, and decided he would try the same career path. He worked for multiple firms, but ultimately branched out on his own, and launched Stratton Oakmont. He started Stratton Oakmont in early 1990, and with his partner, Danny Porush, was using a “pump and dump” scheme to rake in the cash. He would push his clients to buy stocks in certain companies to inflate the prices, then his company would sell of its own holdings, turning a phenomenal profit! Belfort lived quite a reckless life. He was spending money left and right, buying a mansion, cars, and other expensive toys. He was a drug addict and that led to several accidents, including crashing his helicopter and sinking his own yacht. The Securities and Exchange Commission went out to shut down the fraudulent Stratton Oakmont in 1992 and by 1994; Belfort was banned for life from working in the securities industry. He was investigated for money laundering and other