When people talk about “The Wolf of Wall Street,” they remember the wild parties and Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance. But there’s one person who chose a different path—Denise Lombardo, Jordan Belfort’s first wife. While her ex-husband became famous for his crimes, Denise quietly built a successful life away from attention.
Personal Info
| Full Name | Denise Lombardo |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 11, 1963 |
| Place of Birth | Ohio, United States |
| Age | 61 years old (as of 2024) |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Italian-American |
| Parents | Anthony Fiorito (Father), Ann Lombardo (Mother) |
| Siblings | Two sisters (Deanna and Lisa) |
| Education | Bayside High School; Adelphi University (English Literature) |
| Current Profession | Real Estate Agent, Flooring Specialist |
| Famous For | First wife of Jordan Belfort |
| Marital Status | Married to Nick Amato |
| Children | Three sons (Brett, Nicolas, and Matt) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $3 million |
Early Life and Education
Denise Lombardo was born on November 11, 1963, in Ohio. She grew up in a middle-class Italian-American family with her parents, Anthony Fiorito and Ann Lombardo, and two sisters, Deanna and Lisa.
Denise was a good student who cared about education. She attended Bayside High School and later went to Adelphi University, where she studied English Literature. This education gave her strong communication skills for her future career.
Meeting and Marrying Jordan Belfort
Denise met Jordan Belfort when they were young. Some reports say they were high school sweethearts at Bayside High School. Others say they met when Jordan was working as a salesman in the mid-1980s. They fell in love before Jordan became the famous “Wolf of Wall Street.”
At that time, Jordan was starting his finance career. Denise supported him during these early years when money was tight. She believed in him and stood by his side.
They got married in 1985. In the beginning, their marriage seemed happy. Denise worked at a hair salon to help support the family. She was a loving wife who wanted her husband to succeed.
The Marriage Falls Apart
Things changed when Jordan started making more money. He founded Stratton Oakmont, a company that became successful but also illegal. The company stole money from people who wanted to invest in stocks.
As Jordan became richer, he changed. He started using drugs, especially Quaaludes. He threw wild parties and lived a crazy lifestyle. He stopped caring about his marriage. The man Denise married was disappearing.
The worst part came when Jordan had an affair with model Nadine Caridi. He was unfaithful to Denise, even though she had supported him through difficult times. In his memoir, Jordan admitted what he did was terrible. He wrote, “I should’ve been horsewhipped for what I did to Denise.”
The Divorce
In 1991, Denise made the brave decision to divorce Jordan. She had seen enough of his lies, drug use, and cheating. The marriage ended without any children.
This divorce was probably the best decision Denise ever made. A few years later, Jordan was arrested for fraud and money laundering. He had stolen around $200 million from investors. In 2003, he was sentenced to four years in prison but only served 22 months.
If Denise had stayed married to Jordan, she would have been caught in this terrible situation. Instead, she had already moved on.
Building a New Life
After leaving Jordan, Denise focused on rebuilding her life. She didn’t want to be known only as “Jordan Belfort’s ex-wife.” She wanted her own success story.
Denise worked hard to improve her career skills. In September 1993, she got a job in sales at Modern Medical Systems, where she worked until September 2000.
In February 2000, Denise began working as a flooring specialist at The Home Depot. She became very good at helping customers. She still works in this position today.
In 2006, she also worked as a sales representative for Smith & Nephew, a medical company, for two years.
The biggest step came in 2010 when Denise became a licensed real estate agent. She joined Douglas Elliman Company in Bayport, New York. This career has been very successful, and she has helped many families find homes.
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Personal Life and Family
Denise found love again after her divorce. Three years after leaving Jordan, she married Nick Amato. Together, they built a happy family with three sons: Brett, Nicolas, and Matt.
Unlike her first marriage with all its drama, Denise’s second marriage has been quiet and private. She and Nick created a stable, loving home for their children. The family currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area.
Denise has chosen to stay out of the public eye. She doesn’t give interviews or talk about her past with Jordan. Even when “The Wolf of Wall Street” movie came out in 2013, Denise remained silent.
The Wolf of Wall Street Movie
In 2013, director Martin Scorsese made a movie about Jordan Belfort’s life. Leonardo DiCaprio played Jordan, showing all the wild parties and illegal activities.
In the movie, Denise’s character was renamed Teresa Petrillo and played by actress Cristin Milioti. The film showed Teresa as a supportive wife who tried to be a voice of reason as Jordan’s behavior got worse.
Interestingly, Cristin Milioti couldn’t talk to the real Denise while preparing for the role. Denise wanted to keep her privacy. This shows how much she values her quiet life away from Hollywood.
Net Worth and Success
Today, Denise Lombardo has an estimated net worth of about $3 million. She earned this money through her own hard work in real estate and sales. She also received some money in the divorce settlement, though the exact amount was never made public.
Denise’s success is impressive when compared to Jordan’s current situation. Despite making millions through his crimes, Jordan Belfort now has a negative net worth because he still owes money to the people he cheated.
Lessons from Denise’s Story
Denise Lombardo’s life teaches us important lessons. She had the courage to leave a bad marriage, even when her husband was rich and powerful. She knew money couldn’t make up for dishonesty.
Instead of depending on her ex-husband’s fame, Denise created her own career. She worked hard and built a good life for herself and her family.
In a world where everyone wants to be famous, Denise chose privacy. She understood that a quiet, happy life is better than fame and attention.
Denise didn’t let her past define her future. She found love again, built a career, and created a stable family life.
Where Is She Now?
Today, Denise Lombardo lives a peaceful life in the Washington, D.C. area with her husband and three sons. She continues to work as a real estate agent and flooring specialist.
Denise rarely appears in the media and doesn’t have public social media accounts. She has successfully kept her personal life private, which is exactly what she wants.
While Jordan Belfort travels around the world giving speeches, Denise has chosen the opposite path. She values her family, work, and privacy above all else.
Conclusion
Denise Lombardo’s story is one of strength and quiet success. While her ex-husband became famous for wrong reasons, Denise built a good life through honest work and smart choices.
Her decision to leave Jordan Belfort and create her own path was brave and wise. Today, she has a loving family, a successful career, and peace from living honestly. In many ways, Denise Lombardo won the real prize—a happy, quiet life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Did Denise Lombardo have children with Jordan Belfort?
No, Denise and Jordan Belfort did not have any children together during their marriage. However, after divorcing Jordan in 1991, Denise remarried and had three sons—Brett, Nicolas, and Matt—with her current husband, Nick Amato.
2. What does Denise Lombardo do for a living?
Denise works as a licensed real estate agent at Douglas Elliman Company in Bayport, New York. She has been working in real estate since 2010. She also works as a flooring specialist at The Home Depot, a position she has held since February 2000.
3. How much money did Denise Lombardo get from her divorce?
The exact amount Denise received in her divorce settlement from Jordan Belfort was never made public. Both parties kept the financial details private. However, her current estimated net worth is around $3 million, which comes from her own career success and the divorce settlement.
4. Why did Denise Lombardo divorce Jordan Belfort?
Denise divorced Jordan in 1991 mainly because he was unfaithful to her. Jordan had an affair with model Nadine Caridi while still married to Denise. His increasing drug use, wild lifestyle, and dishonest behavior also contributed to the end of their marriage.
5. Did Denise Lombardo comment on “The Wolf of Wall Street” movie?
No, Denise has never publicly commented on the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street” or how she was portrayed in it. She chose to maintain her privacy and did not participate in any publicity for the film. The actress who played her character, Cristin Milioti, was not able to speak with Denise while preparing for the role.
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