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00:00Hi, I'm Anna Sorokin, a.k.a. Anna Delvey. Con artist? Maybe. Opportunist? Definitely. Icon? Obviously.
00:10Anyway, I grew up in a drab, working-class Russian town where I fantasized about a completely different, much more glamorous existence.
00:19I refused to turn out like my boring, generic parents. No, I was going to pursue fame and fortune, no matter the cost.
00:27In high school, I got pretty good at designing my own clothes. And honestly, people noticed.
00:32Compliments were flying left and right. But then, when I was 16, my parents decided to move us to Germany.
00:39I thought my new classmates would totally vibe with my unique style, but nope. They roasted me for being different.
00:46What? You didn't get enough attention in Russia?
00:48I couldn't even understand what they were saying. I was still learning German, but the pointing and snickering I heard loud and clear.
00:56Can you free me the ketchup, please?
00:58Sure.
00:59What the heck?
01:00You said free the ketchup!
01:01Just then, I grabbed my harmonica bottle, taking a sip before casually playing a tune on the cap's built-in harmonica.
01:08I wasn't even thinking about it, just something I did. But suddenly, all eyes were on me.
01:13Wait, what was that?
01:15What was what?
01:16The bottle. You played it like a harmonica.
01:18Oh, yeah. It's a water bottle and a harmonica, obviously.
01:23That's insane! I need one.
01:25By the next week, I had ordered a few bottles for them from Amazon. They acted all grateful. For a while, I thought, maybe this is it. Maybe they'll start being nice to me. Then, a few days later…
01:37So, uh, there aren't any left from the ones you gave us? Can I have yours? It's for my sister.
01:42I hesitated, but handed it over, thinking this has to be a turning point. Spoiler alert. It wasn't. They stayed mean. By the way, grab your harmonica bottle from the link in the description, guys.
01:54I was holding back tears. No way could I let them see me cry. They'd tear me apart. So, I bolted to the bathroom and let it all out. But as I sat there, staring at the same ugly black loafers peeking out from the stalls, it hit me.
02:09They're the ones who have it all wrong. Just small town sheep with zero taste. Me? I had the big dreams. They didn't hate me. They were just jealous.
02:18When I was 18, I was accepted into the prestigious Central Saint Martins Art School in London. But my first class was boring. The professor had no charisma, no sense of style. And his voice sounded like listening to paint dry.
02:32I can't take it. How do you expect anyone to learn anything when you're more dull than the subject matter? Everyone stopped and stared at me dumbfounded. I didn't belong here either. Russia was too drab. London too stuffy.
02:44It was time to go to a place where people weren't afraid to stand out from the crowd. Berlin. I got an internship at a PR company where I learned that everything in this world is built on image, money, power, and success.
02:58Darling, are you wearing polyester to a client dinner with a fashion company? I cannot have your poor taste reflecting poorly on me. Where do you shop?
03:07I, uh, I make my own clothes, actually. It's cheaper.
03:11Hmm. Interesting. Very interesting.
03:13I could tell my boss totally lost respect for me after that. No one takes a poor person seriously.
03:19Ugh. I quit the internship before I could get fired. I was ready to fake it till I made it. It was time to inhabit the successful fashionista I would one day become.
03:28I moved to Paris with $20 in my pocket to pursue an internship with Purple Magazine. My great aunt was the first woman in our family to wear a tube top in Russia. She was so counter culture. Let me bring that love of the bold to your magazine. You won't regret it. It worked.
03:44I was hired on the spot. But Paris was expensive for a 20 year old and $400 a month wasn't enough to fake being glamorous. So I asked for a job and didn't get it. I begged my parents for money to help me finish my internship.
04:01But let's just say, I spent it on trying to make a name for myself. Dinners at Paris' finest restaurants. Nights out mingling with the rich and beautiful at the most exclusive clubs. But soon, I ran out of money.
04:14You owe me two months' rent data.
04:17I had no way of keeping up rent. So I decided to flee the country and move to America. 48 hours later, I arrived in New York City and checked into the chicest hotel in Manhattan.
04:28I used my Purple Magazine ID badge to gain access to an exclusive event at New York Fashion Week. And with my blazing blue power suit, I arrived on the red carpet, confidently posing for pics.
04:39People seemed to believe I was someone. Because suddenly, click, click, click, photos were being snapped of me left and right. The taller I stood, the more interested people were to know me.
04:49A woman, a little older, maybe 23, with perfect hair, started chatting me up.
04:54Oh my gosh, I love your blazer. Where did you get it?
04:57Custom made, by moi.
04:58Oh, I think I detected an accent. Where are you from, if you don't mind me?
05:01Oh, no, no, no, not at all. I'm from Germany. Berlin.
05:05Berlin.
05:06Oh, no way. I have friends in Berlin. What's your last name?
05:09Uh, Delvey.
05:10Okay, I lied. But I was trying to reinvent myself. I didn't want to be seen as the poor, working-class girl from Russia.
05:16Your badge says Sorkin and I don't see you on the list. Can I see ID?
05:20Ugh, sorry. I'm going through a divorce and I keep forgetting it's not finalized.
05:24ID.
05:25If I showed my ID, the woman would know I wasn't on the list. And Rachel would know I wasn't from Germany.
05:31So, I rifled through my purse, pretending to look for my wallet.
05:34Oh my gosh. Ugh. I think I left it at home. I can't go back there. He's there. I can't see him. I'm sorry. It's been-
05:41And then, I started weeping. A skill I practiced back in Russia.
05:45Oh my gosh, honey, don't cry. Your makeup is going to smudge.
05:48Rachel must have actually believed me. Because soon, she was lying to the check-in woman.
05:53She's with me. It's okay. My guest canceled. Please, she's clearly going through a lot.
05:57The check-in woman looked at me pitifully. And then, stoically nodded, letting me through.
06:02Oh my god. Thank you. Thank you.
06:04Of course. I know how hard divorces can be.
06:07You've been through one?
06:09I feel like I have. I just watched Eat, Pray, Love. And what Julia Roberts goes through in that movie, I can't imagine.
06:15Rachel was perfect. She was bubbly, energetic, and was a photo editor for Vanity Fair.
06:21She knew everyone who mattered in Manhattan. Her best trait, though, was believing everything I told her,
06:27including that I was a German heiress who was looking to launch the Anna Delvey Organization,
06:32a private art foundation where all the best creators and entrepreneurs in New York could feature their work
06:37and foster a like-minded community of tastemakers. Rachel loved it.
06:41Oh my gosh. I love it.
06:43Well, I could use some help. I'm looking for investors. I can introduce you to some people.
06:48You deserve something good after what you've been through. She was right. I did deserve something good.
06:52And the more the idea of my organization looked like it could become a reality, the more obsessed I became with making it happen.
07:00I opened five new credit cards and followed Rachel's lead. She showed me where to eat, where to party, and where to be seen.
07:06And through her, I met the upper crust of young, successful New Yorkers. DJs, chefs, architects, artists.
07:14But finding investors was taking longer than expected. Within weeks, my credit cards were almost maxed out.
07:20I needed to go big or go home. Literally. So, I hosted a swanky party in the Hamptons and invited the wealthiest people I knew.
07:28But on the day of the party, there was a slight hiccup. What do you mean your credit card isn't working?
07:35My ex-husband must have accidentally canceled it or something. Ugh. Now the venue is saying they won't let us have the party.
07:41One second. I took out my phone and pretended to be on hold with my credit card company.
07:46Hello? Yes, I'm here. What do you mean I have to wait five to seven days to use it? My party is today. It's in ten minutes, actually.
07:54Anna, Anna, it's okay. I can cover it for now. You're good for it, right?
07:58Oh my gosh, of course. Thank you. And I was planning on paying her back.
08:02But rich people are very protective of their money, and I couldn't find investors.
08:07I tried securing a loan, but the bank wouldn't give me money unless they saw I already had some.
08:13The system was so rigged. So, I forged some bank documents saying I had a great deal of funds in a Swiss bank
08:20and managed to get a nice little loan of $22 million, just as long as I paid the legal fees up front.
08:27Let's just say I had to figure out how to get $10,000 overnight.
08:31If you lend me this money, I promise I'll pay you back as soon as possible.
08:35Just email my financial advisor if you don't trust me.
08:38They did email him. Luckily, it was me who created the email address of this fake advisor
08:44and sent a message back to them ensuring Anna was good for the money. And it worked.
08:48I secured my $22 million loan, but I was hasty and made one fatal error.
08:55I accidentally told the bank I was born in Germany, even though my passport said Russia.
09:00I couldn't even keep up with my own lies. So, the bank pulled my loan, and I was back at square one.
09:05Instead of bailing, I decided to go bigger to create a reputation no one could ignore.
09:11I checked into a fancy hotel in Soho, bought an entirely new wardrobe, changed my hairdo,
09:16and started seeing a personal trainer named Casey. I also befriended the concierge at her hotel.
09:21Neff. You know Neff. Me and you aren't that different.
09:25I once knew what it was like to be close to the wealthy, but unable to reach them.
09:29I thought you were an heiress.
09:31Oh, well, it's complicated. Hey, how about you come with me to that new five-star French restaurant on Park?
09:38My treat. I treated the staff members to spa days and fancy dinners, sparing no expense.
09:44But soon, I ran out of money. The hotel owner threatened to kick me out if I didn't pay up.
09:49I didn't know what to do. I needed time and space.
09:52So, I booked a little vacation. With what money, you ask?
09:56Oh, just some fake checks on the amount of $80,000 that wouldn't bounce until after I went with Rachel and Casey to Morocco.
10:02But when we arrived at the hotel, my credit cards were declined.
10:06Anna, what is going on with your finances?
10:08You said you own a yacht and you can't even pay for a Caesar salad?
10:12It's just a glitch with the credit card company.
10:14I promise I'll pay you back.
10:16I have the cash back in New York. I'll give it to you first thing when we get there.
10:20And I meant it. Truly.
10:21But when we returned to New York, I was shocked to find that my hotel key wasn't working.
10:26Neff? What's happening? Why can't I get in here?
10:28You're getting kicked out. They said you owe them $30,000.
10:32I have the cash. I just need to go get it from the room.
10:35Your stuff isn't in there. They're keeping it and selling it.
10:38They gave you a lot of warnings, Anna. And why do you have $30,000 in cash? Who even are you?
10:44Who am I? After everything I did for you? So ungrateful.
10:49Luckily, this country loves to give away credit cards like Handy.
10:53So I just got a brand new one and checked into the Beekman Hotel.
10:56Continuing my business plan with a renewed desperation.
10:59My strategy was this. Get a loan from one bank and pay off the debt at the other bank.
11:04When the second bank realized I couldn't pay, I opened up a new account at a new bank and got a loan.
11:09It worked as long as I kept moving.
11:11Unfortunately, that meant I couldn't stay at any one hotel long enough to make an impression on the money hoarding elite.
11:17By the end of 2017, I had lived in more than seven hotels on credit alone.
11:23By my eighth hotel, my credit card was declined and I had to leave.
11:27But when I tried to get a new credit card, I was denied.
11:30Overnight, I was homeless, sleeping in my car on the side of a loud Manhattan street.
11:35Okay, I have friends. It'll all be fine. I always figure it out.
11:40Anna, where have you been? Where is the money you owe me?
11:43Rachel, I'm sorry. My life has just been crazy. I'll tell you all about it at lunch. Just meet me tomorrow and I'll bring the money. Promise.
11:53You sound freezing. Are you okay?
11:55I thought about telling her the truth. I really did. But I didn't want to hear it myself. Never better.
12:00At dinner, Rachel was staring daggers at me from across the table.
12:04I'll have the braised short rib. Thank you.
12:06Who's paying for this?
12:07Don't worry about it. I've got it.
12:09You don't look so good, Anna.
12:10Really? Is it my bangs?
12:12No. Where is my money?
12:13So, look. I'm still working on...
12:15Anna, do you have my money or do you not?
12:18Please, Rachel. I need a place to stay.
12:21I promise I will get you the money. But right now, I'm sleeping on the streets.
12:25I don't believe anything you say anymore. Wait. If you try reaching out to me again, my lawyers will be the ones answering.
12:32I was speechless and I totally lost my appetite. With my head heavy, I walked to the bathroom. But as I was opening the door, a big burly hand grabbed mine. I looked up and saw the gruffest, nastiest looking cop glaring down at me.
12:46I need you to come with me. The cop slapped his handcuffs on me, dragging me out of the restaurant. He shoved me into the back of his cop car. When I arrived at the police station, they tossed me in a cell like a criminal.
12:57Hey, you can't do this. I want my lawyer. I get a phone call, don't I?
13:01You owe a lot of people a lot of money.
13:03I don't know what you're talking about.
13:05Consider this a warning. You're gonna spend the night for attempting to dine and dash.
13:10What?
13:11You don't pay your debts within 30 days. The FBI is coming for you. Four hotels are threatening to sue. Six restaurants, four clubs. Should I go on?
13:21I think I might have growled at him. He slammed the metal bar doors. At least I had a place to sleep for the night, I guess. Ugh, this sucked. I had to admit it. I had failed.
13:31The next morning, I decided to cut my losses and leave New York City. But as I was taking the subway to the airport, an advertisement caught my eye for a fancy rehabilitation center in Los Angeles, like the place celebs would go to.
13:44I googled it, and it was totally that place. It was like a sign from above telling me what to do next. I needed to go to Malibu for rehab.
13:52So I booked a ticket with my credit card and arrived at the beautiful beach resort. But a month later, the rehab said my credit cards weren't working and gave me the boot.
14:01You're just going to kick me to the streets? What kind of rehabilitation place is this? I didn't even meet any celebrities there, and none of the rich people would invest in my foundation. The whole thing was a flop.
14:11As I watched the waves crash into the shore, I felt empty. Maybe it was time to admit I'd never win this game. It was writ in favor of the rich, and I'd always be just poor. I was all alone with nothing. Tears started pouring out of me.
14:25And then, I got a phone call. Rachel? Anna, I'm sorry I abandoned you and said such horrible things. I heard you're not in a very good place. Can we meet for lunch? I want to make it up to you.
14:35I was actually relieved to hear someone's familiar voice, but still livid, obviously. I don't know. You treated me very cruelly, but I guess one lunch couldn't hurt.
14:45Great. Meet me at the five-star sushi spot you love. See you tomorrow night.
14:48Wait, tomorrow night? I was in Los Angeles, but I had no one else to turn to and nowhere else to go. And maybe this would be my chance to start over the right way.
14:57So I took a cab to the airport and bought a red eye to New York. On the plane, I made a list of all the ethical ways I would try to achieve my dream.
15:04Hey, maybe I had learned something in rehab. I arrived the next morning, enthusiastic to start my new life. And when I met Rachel for sushi, she actually appeared happy to see me.
15:16I told Rachel about all the celebrities I'd met in rehab and all the new life lessons I'd learned.
15:21Wow, you were only there for a month, but sounds like it was really good for you. I'm so happy. I just gotta run to the bathroom real quick. Be right back.
15:29Kay! Honestly, it felt nice to have a friend again. Plus, she offered to cover the bill. She was taking a while in the bathroom, though. I got up to check on her, but a man was blocking my way.
15:39Wait, it wasn't just a man. It was that horrible cop again. Um, excuse me?
15:44Ma'am, I'm gonna need you to come with me.
15:46Ma'am?
15:47You were under arrest for failing to pay over $150,000 in debt to credit card companies, hotels, and your peers. You have committed a federal offense. Anything you do or say will be held-
15:59The officer slapped handcuffs on my wrist and kept reading me my rights. I was so caught off guard.
16:05On my way out, I saw Rachel emerge from the bathroom, smirking.
16:09Rachel, help me. Tell them they're wrong.
16:12I'm the one who called them. I did some digging, and I know you were never married. And I know you're not an heiress. And I don't know what else you've been lying about, but I know this for sure. You're a crook and a fraud.
16:23The cops dragged me out of the restaurant in front of celebrity diners, fashion designers, models, all of the people I had spent years trying to impress.
16:32Everyone was staring. It was humiliating. And outside the restaurant, the scene was even more chaotic.
16:38Paparazzi were snapping photos left and right. Apparently, Rachel had gone to the press with a juicy story about a fake heiress. I was devastated until I came to a realization.
16:49People were taking my photos. They were looking at me. When I got to the police station, I saw my story being televised on primetime news.
16:58Anna Delvey, a self-proclaimed socialite and heiress from Germany, swindled her way through New York City. She is now standing trial for her crimes.
17:07Rachel didn't realize it, but she had finally gotten people to pay attention to me. I started bursting out laughing. I couldn't control myself.
17:16What are you laughing about? I did it. Are you confessing? What? No. I did something else. I got famous.
17:23Over the next few weeks, I sat in my prison cells, sketching ideas for all my fabulous trial outfits. I even got my attorney to arrange a wardrobe styling.
17:31I had the chicest outfits for every day I'd be sitting in that dreary courtroom. And if any of the other prisoners were rude to me, I wouldn't let them get away with it. Not anymore.
17:41One day, someone called me a fraud and spat in my food. I tackled her to the ground, and we got into a full-on slap fight. The guards pulled us apart and shoved me in solitary confinement.
17:52Thank God. I can finally focus on my sketches without all the noise. I had been getting more attention than ever before.
17:59I was all over social media, magazines, and TV. The fake heiress. The chic scam artist. The sly socialite. There was even an Instagram dedicated to my courtroom outfits.
18:10When a reporter asked if I felt guilty, I simply said, I'd be lying to you and everyone else and to myself if I said I was sorry for anything.
18:19I'm just a girl from a poor family who wanted the American dream. Some people get handed money when they're born. Not me.
18:26Why should the rich get all the opportunities? I didn't hurt anyone. I just wanted more for myself. And I meant it. What was the point in lying?
18:33I had done that enough. I was tired of it. After two days of jury deliberation, the verdict was announced. I was on the edge of my seat.
18:41Anna Sorokin, aka Delvey, is charged with two attempts of grand larceny. Larceny in the second degree and theft of services. And sentenced to four to twelve years in prison.
18:53Four to twelve years? I thought only murderers got that kind of time. I guess I'd have to make it worth it.
18:59I spent my prison sentence keeping to myself and writing my biography about the fake heiress who went to prison. It was a compelling story after all, and Netflix agreed.
19:09While I was in jail, they paid me almost half a million dollars to consult on a television show about my life. Two years later, in 2022, I was released from prison.
19:19I had made enough money to rent a flat in Greenwich Village in New York City and was able to serve the rest of my sentence there.
19:25I was neighbors with all the greatest creative minds of this century. Working on my art, getting the finest food delivered to my door. What else can a girl ask for?
19:35Oh, how about a gallery show and half a million dollars in sales for my artwork? And let's not forget my latest stint on Dancing with the Stars.
19:43Though that didn't go over so well. After all I've been through, you're probably wondering, was it all worth it?
19:49Well, my criminal years are behind me. I'm a household name, and people are still writing stories about me. And paying me for it. And also you, watching my story right now.
19:59So, yeah. It wasn't the most conventional route, but I think I pulled it off.
20:03I think I pulled it off.