The Wolf of Wall Street: Reflection Paper

Bejino, Bulawin, Canlas, Gagalac

Critically acclaimed memoir-turned-film, The Wolf of Wall Street, follows the rise

and fall of Jordan Belfort through his illegal practices in the powerful world of Wall

Street. He started as a young and ambitious stock broker; his shift to a destructive and

egotistical state driven by drugs and money ultimately led to his inevitable downfall.

Through his firm called Stratton Oakmont, he sparked the beginning of the

“pump-dump” scheme, defrauding countless Americans of 200 million dollars, which all

went to his opulent and wild parties and belongings. Nevertheless, his chaotic lifestyle

has brought lessons to the world of finance and business operations.

Starting a business is no joke. To start a business, you must have confidence in

yourself. Jordan Belfort exemplified this confidence. Following his dismissal from a

brokerage firm on Wall Street, Belfort then established his own firm, Stratton Oakmont.

Initially composed of five individuals, including him, Belfort taught them how to converse

with customers, but then word got out that his firm was generating a huge fortune. That

is where Stratton Oakmont’s workforce went from a handful to dozens, then to

hundreds. The firm continued to grow as Belfort believed in his employees. However,

the firm’s illegal activities led to the downfall of Stratton Oakmont.

The movie highlights the importance of having confidence in starting a business

and the importance of promoting motivation in the workplace. However, it also

highlighted greed and corruption. Belfort was willing to engage in any means to

generate income, whether it involved cheating, dishonesty, or, most importantly,

defrauding his clients. He lost sight of what he should be putting first—his family. The

movie serves as a reminder that, while the pursuit of money might be appealing, it must

be done ethically and legally. The movie depicts how greed and corruption can have

negative consequences for both the individuals involved and society as a whole.

The film portrays a culture of fraud and unethical practices. It emphasizes the

risks of engaging in dishonest practices to achieve financial success and the potential

legal consequences that can follow. Jordan Belfort’s company, Stratton Oakmont,

participates in the “pump and dump” scheme where they encourage clients to buy

shares/stocks, inflating its value using false information and then selling them for a profit

which then will generate real income. This approach takes advantage of inexperienced

investors and emphasizes the importance of strong regulatory control in the finance

industry. Due to gaps in regulation and lax enforcement, Belfort and his colleagues were

able to carry out their fraudulent schemes for a considerable amount of time. The film

demonstrates a short-sighted focus on quick gains and wealth acquisition, contrasting to

a more sustainable and ethical approach to business that addresses the market’s and

financial system’s long-term viability. It illustrates the harsh legal implications that

individuals and businesses might face for committing financial crimes like the “pump

and dump” scheme. While the movie is a dramatized depiction of true events in real life,

it serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency, honesty, and regulatory

adherence to preserve a healthy and sustainable financial system.

 On the other hand, beyond heavy portrayals of crime and broken relationships,

the film imparts a positive lesson—the power of resilience and determination in pursuing

one's goals. Despite facing numerous challenges in the storyline, such as L.F.

Rothschild's shutdown and his schemes' almost exposure, Jordan Belfort refused to

give in easily. He plotted out his goals and displayed unwavering resolve, adapting to

the challenging situations he encountered. This tenacity of his eventually drove him to

his dream destinations. It was only unfortunate he was overtaken by greed and his

persevering spirit was poured into the wrong pursuit which soon led to his downfall.

In conclusion, The Wolf of Wall Street, masterfully told through Scorsese’s film

style and acted by its outstanding star-studded cast, had left a profound impact on us,

marketing and advertising students, with a newly discovered knowledge of the history of

the American stock market crash and the importance of ethical decision-making in

business. This film has imparted a crucial lesson of being transparent, confident,

resilient, and determined in making business decisions. It accentuated the need to avoid

being influenced by illegitimate external factors that may dismantle business integrity.