Anna Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, is a notorious figure in the world of con artistry and fraud. She gained widespread attention for posing as a wealthy heiress to infiltrate New York City’s elite social circles. Her elaborate scams and the dramatic fall from grace have been widely covered in the media, including articles, podcasts, and a hit Netflix miniseries. This article delves into Anna Delvey’s earnings, net worth, and the intricate details of her life and criminal activities, adhering to SEO rules and providing comprehensive insights.
Early Life and Background
Anna Sorokin was born on January 23, 1991, in Domodedovo, Moscow Oblast, then part of Soviet Russia. Her early life was modest; her mother ran a small convenience store, while her father worked as a truck driver. In 2007, her family relocated to North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, where her father became an executive at a transportation company before starting an HVAC business after the company went insolvent in 2013. Sorokin attended a Catholic grammar school, Bischöfliche Liebfrauenschule Eschweiler, and later moved to London to attend Central Saint Martins, an art school, but dropped out and returned to Germany.
Career Beginnings and Adoption of the Delvey Persona
In 2012, Sorokin moved to Paris, France, where she interned at the fashion magazine Purple. It was during this time she began using the pseudonym Anna Delvey. Her move to New York City in 2013, ostensibly for New York Fashion Week, marked the beginning of her grand deception. Preferring the vibrant city over Paris, Sorokin decided to stay and embed herself in New York’s elite social scene by posing as a wealthy heiress.
To maintain her facade, Sorokin conceived the idea of the Anna Delvey Foundation, a private members’ club and art foundation. She proposed leasing the six-floor Church Missions House as a multipurpose events venue and art studio, using falsified bank statements and financial documents created on Microsoft Word to verify her purported wealth. She attempted to secure a $22 million loan from City National Bank and, upon denial, turned to Fortress, providing fraudulent information to various financial institutions.
Fraudulent Activities and Lavish Lifestyle
Sorokin’s fraudulent activities included deceiving banks, hotels, and individuals, resulting in her stealing approximately $275,000. She lived a lavish lifestyle, staying in upscale hotels, purchasing luxury items, and hiring a personal trainer, all under the guise of her fake heiress persona. Her extravagant spending habits eventually caught up with her, leading to a financial downfall by early 2017.
To cover her mounting expenses, Sorokin deposited $160,000 worth of fraudulent checks into a Citibank account and booked a charter flight on a business jet to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Her deceitful actions extended to a luxury trip to Morocco, partially funded by her acquaintance Rachel Williams, whom she promised to reimburse but never did. Upon realizing Sorokin’s true nature, Williams, along with other duped acquaintances, contributed to her exposure as a con artist.
Arrest, Trial, and Media Fame
Anna Sorokin’s criminal activities culminated in her arrest in October 2017 in Malibu, California, during a sting operation organized by NYPD officer Michael McCaffrey with the help of Rachel Williams. Following her arrest, Sorokin was indicted on multiple counts of grand larceny by a grand jury. Her trial began in March 2019, and after a month-long proceeding, she was found guilty on eight charges. Sorokin was sentenced to four to twelve years in state prison, fined $24,000, and ordered to pay $199,000 in restitution. During her incarceration, she was held at Rikers Island, where she was cited for misbehavior multiple times, before being transferred to Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women and later to Albion Correctional Facility.
Having served a little over two years of her sentence, Sorokin was released on parole in February 2021, only to be detained by ICE agents six weeks later for overstaying her visa. In late 2022, she was granted a $10,000 bail and placed under house arrest.
Financial Status and Media Exploits
Despite her high-profile scams, Anna Sorokin’s net worth is currently estimated at $50,000. A significant portion of her financial gains was restitution to her victims, and she paid $198,000 to them. Notably, Netflix paid her $320,000 for her life rights and consultancy on the miniseries “Inventing Anna,” created by Shonda Rhimes and starring Julia Garner as Sorokin. Garner’s portrayal earned her nominations for Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe Awards.
Sorokin’s story has inspired numerous media productions, including books, podcasts, and TV series. Rachel Williams authored “My Friend Anna,” chronicling her experiences with Sorokin, while Sorokin’s story has been featured on shows like “American Greed,” “Generation Hustle,” and “20/20,” as well as the podcast “Fake Heiress.” In 2022, Sorokin signed a deal to star in a reality TV series about her life post-prison.
