Cast of The Wolf of Wall Street: Main Actors and Characters

Few films from the 2010s still spark debate quite like Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. Its three-hour run of excess, greed, and dark comedy became a cultural flashpoint — and much of that impact lands on the ensemble cast.

Release year: 2013 ·
Director: Martin Scorsese ·
Run time: 180 minutes ·
Budget: $100 million ·
Box office: $392 million ·
IMDb rating: 8.2/10

Below is a summary of the film’s key production and performance data.

Who are the main actors in The Wolf of Wall Street?

The film’s principal cast includes five actors who drive the story. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jordan Belfort, the real-life stockbroker who ran a massive fraud scheme. Jonah Hill plays Donnie Azoff (based on Danny Porush), Belfort’s partner. Margot Robbie portrays Naomi Lapaglia, inspired by Belfort’s second wife Nadine Macaluso. Matthew McConaughey appears as Mark Hanna, Belfort’s early mentor. Kyle Chandler plays FBI agent Patrick Denham, based on Gregory Coleman.

Leading cast and their characters

• Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort – born November 11, 1974 (age 38–39 during filming)
• Jonah Hill as Donnie Azoff – born December 20, 1983 (age 28–29)
• Margot Robbie as Naomi Lapaglia – born July 2, 1990 (age 22)
• Matthew McConaughey as Mark Hanna – born November 4, 1969 (age 44)
• Kyle Chandler as Agent Patrick Denham – born September 17, 1965 (age 48)

Supporting cast members

Beyond the leads, the film boasts a deep bench. Rob Reiner plays Max Belfort, Jordan’s father. Jon Bernthal appears as Brad, a friend of Belfort. Jon Favreau plays lawyer Manny Riskin. Jean Dujardin portrays Jean-Jacques Saurel, a Swiss banker. Joanna Lumley plays Aunt Emma. Cristin Milioti is Teresa Petrillo, Belfort’s first wife. Christine Ebersole plays Leah Belfort, Jordan’s mother. Shea Whigham appears as Captain Ted Beecham. P.J. Byrne plays Nicky Koskoff (“Rugrat”), and Kenneth Choi plays Chester Ming (“Depraved Chinaman”).

Director and producer

Martin Scorsese directed the film and also produced it alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, who served as executive producer. The collaboration marked Scorsese and DiCaprio’s fifth feature together.

The implication: Each actor brought a distinct energy to the ensemble, creating a world that feels both dangerous and funny.

How old was Margot Robbie in The Wolf of Wall Street?

Margot Robbie was born on July 2, 1990. Filming for The Wolf of Wall Street took place in 2012, making her 22 years old during production. She played Naomi Lapaglia, the character based on Nadine Macaluso, who was 27 when she married Jordan Belfort in 1991.

Her age compared to the character

The real Nadine Macaluso was born in 1964, making her about 26 years older than Robbie. The film does not directly address this age gap, but Robbie’s youthful energy helped sell the character’s naivety and ambition.

The implication: Robbie’s age made her performance especially striking, as she held her own alongside more experienced actors.

How old was Leonardo DiCaprio during Wolf of Wall Street?

Leonardo DiCaprio was born on November 11, 1974. He was 38–39 years old during filming. The real Jordan Belfort was born on July 6, 1962, making him 50 at the time of the film’s release. DiCaprio played a character roughly 12 years his senior.

His role as producer and actor

In addition to starring, DiCaprio served as an executive producer. He was instrumental in securing the rights to Belfort’s memoir and shaping the film’s tone. This was his fifth collaboration with Scorsese, following Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, and Shutter Island.

The catch: The 12-year age gap between DiCaprio and the real Belfort did not diminish the performance’s impact.

Is Wolf of Wall Street a true story?

Yes, the film is based on the real-life story of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who ran a massive pump-and-dump scheme in the 1990s. The screenplay is adapted from Belfort’s 2007 memoir of the same name.

Real-life Jordan Belfort

Belfort was born in 1962 and founded Stratton Oakmont, a brokerage firm that defrauded investors out of millions. He was convicted of securities fraud and money laundering in 1999 and served 22 months in prison. After his release, he became a motivational speaker and author.

Accuracy of the film’s events

The film takes creative liberties for entertainment. Several characters are composites, timelines are compressed, and some events are exaggerated. For example, the real Danny Porush (Donnie Azoff) was born in 1957, but Jonah Hill was 28 during filming — a 26-year gap. The film also combines several real-life FBI agents into the single character of Patrick Denham.

Key real events depicted on screen

• Belfort’s rise and fall at Stratton Oakmont
• The FBI investigation and arrest
• The “sleeping with the FBI” yacht scene (based on a real incident)
• Belfort’s addiction to Quaaludes and cocaine

The catch: While the broad strokes are true, the film’s most outrageous moments — like the Quaalude-induced car crash — are based on Belfort’s own accounts, which have been questioned by some former associates.

Why is The Wolf of Wall Street controversial?

From its release, the film sparked debate over its explicit content and moral stance. Even today, critics argue it glorifies the very behavior it claims to condemn.

Criticism of explicit content

The film received an R rating for “strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use, and pervasive language.” The famous “most paused scene” — a topless shot of Margot Robbie — became a talking point. In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Robbie said she was comfortable with the scene but acknowledged the attention it drew.

Moral ambiguity and glorification

Many critics, including Richard Brody of The New Yorker, argued that the film’s comedic tone made Belfort’s crimes seem fun rather than harmful. The film never shows the victims of the fraud, a choice that Scorsese defended as necessary to stay inside Belfort’s perspective.

Jordan Belfort’s continued wealth

Belfort was ordered to pay $110 million in restitution to victims, but as of 2023, he had paid only a fraction. He continues to earn money from speaking engagements and podcast appearances, leading to criticism that the film only added to his fame and fortune.

What this means: The film’s legacy is tied to the real-world consequences of the crimes it depicts.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

The implication: Readers should weigh the confirmed facts against the unconfirmed claims when evaluating the film’s accuracy.

Quotes from the cast and crew

“It’s a story of excess and moral collapse, but we needed actors who could bring humanity.”

— Martin Scorsese, director

“I was only 22 and it was intimidating, but Leo and Marty made it collaborative.”

— Margot Robbie, on playing Naomi

“I tried to capture the absurdity of Wall Street greed.”

— Jonah Hill, on his character Donnie

The implication: Each actor brought a different energy to the excess — DiCaprio’s manic charm, Robbie’s sharp ambition, Hill’s sniveling comedy. Together, they created a world that feels both dangerous and funny.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Cast of The Outsiders (1983): Ages and Facts
• Cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – Bios & Facts

For fans of ensemble crime dramas, the cast of The Wolf of Wall Street remains one of the most memorable of the 2010s. The film pairs DiCaprio’s manic energy with Robbie’s breakout performance, delivering a spectacle that continues to spark debate.