Who is Anna Delvey: Net Worth, Ankle Bracelet and Everything Else You Need to Know About Her

If you have a Dancing with the stars If you're a fan, you may have noticed something unusual in a recent episode. A contestant entered the dance floor wearing a shiny ankle bracelet. That contestant is Anna Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin. She's a convicted con artist who once fooled New York's elite by pretending to be a wealthy European heiress.

Delvey, or Sorokin, was found guilty of grand theft and sentenced to prison. She stole an extravagant lifestyle, defrauding banks, lawyers and even a private jet company of more than $200,000 (£150,000). Her life of fraud culminated in a prison sentence, but she was released in February 2021. She now presents herself as a “New York-based fashionista” living under house arrest and wearing an electronic ankle bracelet.

Why the ankle bracelet?

While Delvey's original 2019 convictions were related to her fraudulent activities, the ankle bracelet she now wears is part of her ongoing immigration battle in the United States. After overstaying her visa due to her time in prison, Sorokin is under house arrest in New York City and fighting deportation. The ankle bracelet is a condition of her release and a haunting reminder of her legal struggles as she awaits the outcome of her immigration case.

A move to reality TV fame

Despite her past crimes, Sorokin has carved out a new role for herself as a pop culture figure. In a press release, Disney-owned ABC called her “an artist, fashion icon and notorious New York socialite” and even referred to her as a “notorious ankle bracelet fashionista.” Sorokin joined a cast of Dancing with the stars Contestants, including an NBA veteran, various reality TV stars and Olympians for the latest edition of the BBC's US offshoot Be sure to come and dance Format.

However, not everyone is thrilled about Sorokin's new fame. Critics accused the channel of glorifying her criminal past. The New York Post Her admission to the US was a “new low for pop culture”. Questions were also raised about how Sorokin, a German-Russian citizen, could have the right to live and work in the US given her immigration problems. Nevertheless, she has her supporters, including Dancing with the stars Judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who encouraged viewers to give Anna a chance and judge her solely on her dancing.

Despite the controversy surrounding her participation, Sorokin's dance routine received 18 out of 30 from the judges. Carrie Ann Inaba, who admitted she felt a shift in energy when Anna took the stage, urged the audience to focus on her dancing skills rather than her criminal past. “Let's all just give her a chance,” Inaba said. “This is about your dance. Let's all give her that space, please.”

Who is Anna Delvey?

Anna Delvey was born Anna Sorokin in a Moscow suburb in 1991. She and her family moved to Germany in 2007. Sorokin eventually moved to Paris, where she assumed the identity of Anna Delvey, a wealthy European heiress, and carried that cover with her when she arrived in New York in 2014. Her life in New York was a whirlwind of luxury hotels, exclusive parties and relationships with the city's elite, all while failing to pay hotel bills and defrauding individuals of large sums of money.

Delvey's fraudulent empire collapsed on October 3, 2017, when Los Angeles police arrested her in an operation organized by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. One of her victims, Rachel DeLoache Williams, who claimed Delvey defrauded her of more than $60,000 during a trip to Marrakesh, played a key role in the operation.

After her arrest, Delvey was transferred to Rikers Island, where she was held without bail. Three weeks later, she was charged with stealing about $275,000 through various scams, including free travel and private flights. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said Delvey's crimes ranged from check fraud to stolen six-figure loans.

No regrets, no deal

In June 2018, Delvey and her attorney attempted to negotiate a plea deal, but Judge Diane Kiesel refused, saying Delvey showed no remorse. The case went to trial, and in April 2019, Delvey was found guilty on eight counts, including second-degree grand larceny, theft of services, and attempted first-degree grand larceny. In May of that year, she was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, fined $24,000, and ordered to pay restitution to her victims.

Delvey's infamous Netflix story

Despite her criminal convictions, Delvey's story captured the public's imagination and was adapted into a Netflix series. The invention of Annaproduced by Shonda Rhimes. Actress Julia Garner played Delvey and the series chronicled her rise and fall as a fake heiress who defrauded New York's wealthiest. Garner, who met Delvey in prison while preparing for the role, described her as “charming” and “gentle” – until she wanted something.

Life after prison

After serving nearly four years, including her time on Rikers Island, Delvey was released from prison in February 2021. She was supposed to leave the U.S., but she didn't. In a June 2024 interview, Delvey said she tries to stay busy and productive, but admitted that house arrest limited her options. “On a day-to-day basis, I don't do anything exciting,” she confessed. “It would be easier to create more content if I could leave the house.”

Delvey remains active on social media, posting regularly on Instagram under the handle @AnnaDelvey. As her legal battles continue, she continues to interact with her followers, many of whom are captivated by her unique combination of charm and fame.

Assets: What is left of Anna Delvey’s fortune?

While some sources speculate that Delvey is worth around $50,000, her actual net worth remains uncertain due to her legal entanglements. According to insiderNetflix paid her $320,000 for the rights to her story, but much of that money was frozen by New York State under the “Son of Sam” law, which prohibits criminals from profiting from their crimes.

Delvey used $199,000 of the Netflix payment to pay off debts owed to her victims and another $24,000 to pay fines. She also spent $75,000 on legal fees, leaving her with only $22,000 from the Netflix deal. When Delvey was asked in 2020 what she planned to do professionally if she stayed in the U.S., she said she hoped to continue consulting on creative projects, as she had done for The invention of Anna.

Anna Delvey's story is complex, mixing crime, glamour and reinvention. From her days as a fake heiress who defrauded New York's wealthiest to her current status as a media sensation and reality TV star, Delvey's ability to stay in the spotlight is undeniable.