The Wolf of Wall Street - Characters & Cast

His primary motivation is an insatiable desire for wealth, power, and every form of excess. He is driven not just by the money itself, but by the god-like status and limitless lifestyle it affords him.

Jordan begins as an ambitious but relatively grounded young man eager to succeed on Wall Street. He is quickly corrupted by the hedonistic culture and, after losing his job, channels his charisma and sales skills into building a fraudulent empire. His arc is a classic rise-and-fall narrative, where he transforms into a person consumed by greed and addiction, ultimately losing everything but never fully grappling with the morality of his actions.

Donnie is motivated by a pure, unadulterated lust for money and the hedonistic lifestyle it enables. He sees Jordan as his ticket to this world and fully commits to the Stratton Oakmont ethos without question.

Donnie's arc is less of a transformation and more of an immediate embrace of corruption. He is instantly captivated by Jordan's wealth and eagerly becomes his partner in crime. He serves as an amplifier of Jordan's worst impulses, often pushing the debauchery to new extremes. His character remains largely static in his amorality, culminating in his eventual betrayal of Jordan.

Her initial motivation is the allure of a luxurious and exciting life. This later shifts to a primal need to protect herself and her children from Jordan's self-destruction, leading her to eventually leave him.

Initially drawn to Jordan's power and wealth, Naomi willingly participates in the lavish lifestyle. Her arc shows her gradual disillusionment as Jordan's addictions and criminal activities spiral out of control, threatening her and their children. She transforms from a partner in excess to a woman desperate to escape the destructive chaos of her husband's life.

Denham is driven by a strong sense of duty and justice. He is motivated to bring down Belfort not for personal gain, but because he believes what Belfort is doing is fundamentally wrong and harmful to society.

Agent Denham serves as the film's moral compass and primary antagonist to Belfort's operation. He is an incorruptible and persistent FBI agent who is disgusted by the excess and fraud he witnesses. His arc is one of steady determination, representing the slow, methodical process of justice in the face of rampant, high-flying crime.