Questions
Who directed The Wolf of Wall Street?
Martin Scorsese directed it, and the movie marked Leonardo DiCaprio’s fifth collaboration with him. It was released wide on December 25, 2013.
Is the movie based on a true story?
Yes. It is based on Jordan Belfort’s 2007 memoir, with a screenplay by Terence Winter. DiCaprio plays Belfort himself.
Does the real Jordan Belfort appear in the film?
He does. The real Jordan Belfort makes a cameo at the very end as the Auckland Straight Line seminar host who introduces DiCaprio’s character.
Does the movie really hold a world record for swearing?
Yes. It holds the Guinness World Record for profanity in a major theatrical release, with the f-word used 569 times, an average of 2.81 times per minute. That tops Scorsese’s own Goodfellas (300) and Casino (422).
How much did Jonah Hill get paid compared to Leonardo DiCaprio?
Reportedly, Hill earned just $60,000, the SAG-AFTRA minimum rate, while DiCaprio received $10 million. Hill took the low pay for the chance to work with Scorsese.
Did anyone get hurt or sick making the movie?
Reportedly, Jonah Hill was hospitalized with bronchitis after snorting real vitamin D powder used as a cocaine substitute during filming.
Was there really a chimpanzee in the movie?
Yes. A four-year-old chimpanzee named Chance reportedly learned to roller skate in three weeks for the film. The use of the chimp drew protests from PETA and Friends of Animals.
How did the movie do at the box office?
It grossed about $407 million worldwide on a $100 million budget, making it Scorsese’s highest-grossing film ever. It also became Australia’s highest-grossing R-rated film at the time.
How many Oscar nominations did it get?
It earned five Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actor for Jonah Hill, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Did Leonardo DiCaprio win any awards for it?
He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role as Jordan Belfort.
Were the characters based on real people?
Yes. Jonah Hill’s Donnie Azoff was based on Danny Porush, and Margot Robbie’s Naomi Lapaglia was based on Nadine Macaluso. Matthew McConaughey played mentor figure Mark Hanna.
What are the Lemmon 714 quaaludes in the movie?
They are a potent batch of quaaludes that Jordan calls ’the holy grail’ of drugs. Taking them leaves him barely able to drive his Lamborghini home and nearly strangling Donnie.
Was the movie almost rated NC-17?
Yes. It was initially rated NC-17, and Scorsese made cuts to secure an R rating. The release was also pushed from November to Christmas as the runtime was trimmed to around 179 minutes.
Was there controversy over who paid for the film?
Yes. Producer Riza Aziz faced charges tied to the 1MDB scandal, and financier Red Granite Pictures later settled with the U.S. Department of Justice for $60 million with no admission of wrongdoing.
How is the movie regarded today?
Critic Richard Brody named it the best film of the 2010s in 2019, and in 2025 the New York Times ranked it number 20 on its list of the 100 best movies of the 21st century.
