Introduction
Anna Delvey (real name: Anna Sorokin) is a name that has become synonymous with fraud and deception. The Russian-born socialite arrived in New York City in 2014 with big dreams of starting a members-only arts club. Delvey moved confidently amongst the city’s elite, gaining the trust and admiration of those around her, and seemed to have access to endless wealth. However, before long, she was discovered to be a con artist who had scammed her way into the upper echelons of New York society. One of the biggest mysteries surrounding her case is how Delvey obtained her initial funds to start her scheme. In this article, we will explore the potential ways in which she might have obtained the money.
A Deep Dive into Anna Delvey’s Backstory
To truly understand how Anna Delvey was able to swindle so many people, it’s important to look at her background. Delvey was born in Russia in 1991 and raised in a small town in Germany. Her father owned a heating and cooling business, and her mother was a housewife. Growing up, Delvey spent summers in France, where she developed a taste for the finer things in life.
As a child, Delvey was an only child and often felt lonely and isolated. She was always quite ambitious and determined to leave her small German town behind. Her father’s business was struggling, and her parents’ financial struggles had a profound effect on her. It’s possible that this early experience of financial insecurity contributed to her later ability to manipulate others for financial gain.
Exploring the Art Scene
Anna Delvey was deeply involved with the art world in New York, and it is likely that she met many of the people who would later fall victim to her scams through her connections in the art scene. She was often seen at gallery openings and art fairs, and she socialised with artists and collectors.
It’s possible that Delvey was able to convince some of these people to invest in her projects, including her proposed members-only arts club. However, it’s also worth noting that the art world is notoriously full of people with more money than sense, and Delvey may have been able to dupe people simply because they wanted to be associated with someone who seemed to be plugged into the scene.
Wealthy Friends and Acquaintances
Many of the people that Anna Delvey scammed were her friends or acquaintances. It’s possible that she had wealthy friends or acquaintances who gave her money for her projects simply because they believed in her.
In some cases, Delvey may have used her connections to gain access to people who she then scammed out of their money. In one instance, she convinced a wealthy acquaintance to let her use their credit card to book a private jet, but then cancelled the flight and didn’t return the money.
Angel Investment
Another potential way that Anna Delvey might have obtained seed money for her scam is through angel investment. It’s possible that she pitched her members-only arts club idea to investors and was able to obtain funding in exchange for equity.
However, given the fact that her scam was so bold and her background was somewhat suspect, it’s unlikely that she would have been able to attract reputable investors. It’s possible that she may have approached less reputable investors who were willing to take a chance on her idea.
Crowd Funding
Another potential avenue for seed money for Anna Delvey is through crowd funding platforms. It’s possible that she used platforms like Kickstarter or GoFundMe to obtain small amounts of money that added up to a larger infusion of cash.
If this is the case, it’s likely that Delvey was able to convince people to give her money through these platforms by presenting herself as a credible, trustworthy entrepreneur. She may have also promised rewards or perks to those who invested in her idea.
Cryptocurrency
Despite being a relatively new phenomenon in 2014, it is also possible that Anna Delvey was an early investor in cryptocurrency. It’s possible that she used her knowledge of the space to invest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum and ultimately build up her initial nest egg that way.
However, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that this is the case, and it’s worth noting that Delvey’s scams were largely built on stunts that required large amounts of cash upfront, such as renting private jets or living in luxury hotels.
Inheritance
Finally, it’s possible that Anna Delvey had access to family funds or trust accounts that enabled her initial schemes. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this is the case.
If this were true, it would certainly have affected the way that Delvey approached her scams and the risks that she was willing to take. It’s possible that she felt emboldened to take risks because she had a safety net to fall back on if things went wrong.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are a number of potential ways that Anna Delvey may have obtained her initial funds. It’s likely that she used a combination of methods, including persuading wealthy friends to invest in her projects, using her connections in the art world, and potentially crowdfunding small amounts of money.
Understanding how scammers like Delvey are able to obtain seed money is important in order to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. It’s important to be vigilant and to thoroughly research any investment opportunities before putting up any money.
Ultimately, Delvey’s story serves as a warning about the dangers of trusting people without knowing their true intentions.
