Anna Sorokin, more infamously known by her alias Anna Delvey, captivated the public with her daring lies and her successful impersonation of a wealthy New York socialite. She fraudulently gained access to the elite circles of the city, using deceit and manipulation to secure loans, services, and luxury items.
Despite being exposed for her crimes, Sorokin remained a media sensation, turning her time in prison into a lucrative career. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into her background, fraudulent activities, legal battles, and the aftermath of her conviction.
Anna Sorokin’s Net Worth: From Fake Heiress to Reality Star
Despite once living a life that most could only dream of, Anna Sorokin’s real financial standing is far from what she portrayed. Her estimated net worth today stands at around $50,000, a stark contrast to the luxurious, billionaire heiress persona she projected.
Sorokin’s criminal activities, including fraudulently securing financial deals and defrauding individuals and businesses, eventually led to her downfall. However, she managed to parlay her infamy into a profitable media career, including securing a deal with Netflix for her life story, which paid her around $320,000.
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Quick Facts: Biography of Anna Sorokin (a.k.a. Anna Delvey)
| Full Name | Anna Sorokin (Alias: Anna Delvey) |
| Date of Birth | January 23, 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Domodedovo, Russia |
| Nationality | Russian (raised in Germany) |
| Occupation | Con artist, influencer, socialite |
| Criminal Charges | Grand larceny, attempted grand larceny, theft of services |
| Conviction | 2019, sentenced to 4-12 years in prison, fined $24,000, restitution of $199,000 |
| Media Exposure | Netflix series Inventing Anna, podcasts, books, TV appearances |
Early Life and Education
Anna Sorokin was born in Domodedovo, a town near Moscow, in 1991. She grew up in a family of modest means: her mother operated a small store, and her father worked as a truck driver. In 2007, the Sorokin family relocated to Germany, where Anna attended school.
She later enrolled at the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London to study art. However, she dropped out and returned to Germany, where her desire to enter the fashion and social scenes began to take shape.
In 2012, Sorokin moved to Paris to intern at a fashion magazine called Purple, where she first adopted the persona of Anna Delvey. She soon set her sights on New York City, where she arrived in 2013 with dreams of mingling with the city’s elite and creating an exclusive art foundation.
The Anna Delvey Foundation (ADF) was born—a fictional private club she claimed would be a hub for high culture and high society. Sorokin’s grand plans included hosting exclusive events and securing large investments, all funded by the massive wealth she falsely claimed to have.
How Anna Sorokin Deceived the Elite
Sorokin’s strategy involved using fabricated financial documents and false claims to portray herself as a wealthy Russian heiress. She convinced several financial institutions, including City National Bank and Fortress Investment Group, that she had the resources to fund her ambitious foundation.
To support her story, she presented fake bank statements and wire transfers to secure loans. Sorokin’s fabricated story gained her access to luxury hotels, upscale events, and socializing with the city’s elite, all while living a lavish lifestyle.
By 2017, however, the cracks in her story began to show. Sorokin was attempting to secure a $22 million loan from a bank to fund the Anna Delvey Foundation, but her financial web started unraveling when the funds didn’t materialize.
The Fraudulent Schemes and Growing Deception
As her lies grew more elaborate, Sorokin’s schemes intensified. She attempted to defraud businesses, including luxury hotels, airlines, and personal services. Some of her most audacious acts included:
- Writing fraudulent checks for large sums to cover her expenses.
- Avoiding paying for luxury hotels by leaving unpaid bills.
- Attempting to steal services by using fake documentation to back up her claims.
One of Sorokin’s most significant scams involved convincing Rachel Williams, a former acquaintance, to pay for a luxury trip to Morocco. Sorokin promised to reimburse her for the trip, but she never did, leaving Williams out of thousands of dollars.
Arrest and Legal Consequences
In October 2017, after months of investigation, Sorokin was arrested by the NYPD in Malibu, California, following an undercover sting operation. She was charged with multiple counts of grand larceny, theft of services, and attempted grand larceny.
Her arrest sent shockwaves through the media, particularly due to her high-profile social connections and audacious crimes. Her trial, which began in March 2019, ended with a conviction on several charges.
Conviction and Sentence
In 2019, Anna Sorokin was convicted of grand larceny and other related charges. She was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay $199,000 in restitution to her victims. She was also fined $24,000. During the trial, Sorokin’s attitude—marked by arrogance and a sense of entitlement—further fueled her notoriety.
Following her conviction, Sorokin was sent to Rikers Island before being transferred to Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and later moved to Albion Correctional Facility.
After serving more than two years of her sentence, Sorokin was released on parole in February 2021. However, her brief taste of freedom was short-lived. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained her for overstaying her visa. In 2022, after a lengthy legal battle, she was granted $10,000 bail and placed under house arrest.
Despite the legal challenges, Sorokin capitalized on her newfound fame. Her story became the subject of a popular Netflix series, Inventing Anna, which dramatized her rise and fall. Sorokin also appeared on podcasts and wrote books, continuing to make money through media deals and appearances.
Conclusion
Anna Sorokin’s journey from a wannabe socialite to a convicted fraudster and media sensation is a fascinating, if cautionary, tale of ambition and deception.
By successfully convincing New York’s elite that she was a wealthy heiress, she was able to manipulate the financial system and enjoy a lavish lifestyle—until her lies caught up with her.
Even after her prison sentence, Sorokin’s ability to remain in the public eye proves that infamy can be just as profitable as fame for some.
People May Ask
What happened to Anna Sorokin after her conviction?
After serving more than two years in prison, Sorokin was released on parole in 2021, but was soon detained by ICE for overstaying her visa. She was placed under house arrest in 2022 after a legal battle.
How much money did Anna Sorokin defraud people out of?
Anna Sorokin defrauded various individuals and institutions out of $275,000, through fraudulent loans, unpaid bills, and scammed services.
Is Anna Sorokin still wealthy?
While she once pretended to be a billionaire heiress, Anna Sorokin’s real wealth is far from that. Her net worth is estimated to be around $50,000 today.
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