Part 3/12:
Belfort founded the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont, which operated with a singular focus on exploiting legal loopholes. His approach was straightforward—manipulate stock prices through artificial demand and prey on unsuspecting investors, often convincing them to invest their life savings. The result was a classic pump-and-dump scheme that defrauded investors of over $200 million. The firm's lavish lifestyle and extravagant parties masked the deceit until the FBI raided the office in 1999.