Anna Sorokin, born on January 23, 1991, in the Soviet Union (now Russia), and also known as Anna Delvey, is a con artist who posed as a wealthy heiress to infiltrate the elite social and art scenes of New York City from 2013 to 2017. At the age of 16, Sorokin emigrated with her family from Russia to Germany in 2007. She moved to London and Paris in 2011 before settling in New York in 2013, where she interned at the French fashion magazine Purple. Sorokin envisioned creating a private members’ club and an arts foundation, even leasing a large building for pop-up shops and art exhibitions featuring artists she met during her internship. To support her fabricated story of a multi-million-euro trust fund, she created fake financial documents and forged wire transfer confirmations. Using these documents and fraudulent checks, Sorokin manipulated banks, real estate agents, and individuals to obtain loans and cash without any collateral.
Anna Sorokin Biography 2024
She lived a lavish lifestyle, staying in upscale hotels and defrauding various financial institutions, individuals, and businesses between 2013 and 2017. Sorokin’s deceit came to light in 2017 when the NYPD arrested her following a sting operation, aided by her former friend Rachel DeLoache Williams, who accused Sorokin of defrauding her out of $62,000. In 2019, Sorokin was convicted of grand larceny, attempted grand larceny, and theft of services, and sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison. After serving two years, she was released on parole, but shortly afterward, she was taken into custody for deportation to Germany. Sorokin’s story gained widespread attention when Williams wrote a detailed article about her for Vanity Fair in 2018, later expanding it into a book, My Friend Anna. In 2019, journalist Jessica Pressler also covered Sorokin’s life for New York, and Netflix bought the rights to her story for $320,000, adapting it into the 2022 miniseries Inventing Anna. Her life has since been the focus of numerous other media productions, including TV shows, podcasts, and interviews.
Anna Sorokin Biography Details
| Born | January 23, 1991 (age 33) Domodedovo, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
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| Other names | - Anna Sorokina
- Anna Sorokin-Delvey
- Anna Delvey
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| Citizenship | Soviet Union, Russia, Germany |
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| Criminal status | NYSDOC #19G0366; Released from New York State custody in February 2021; currently under house arrest in the United States |
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| Conviction(s) | April 25, 2019; 5 years ago |
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| Criminal charge | Grand larceny, second-degree larceny, theft of services |
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| Penalty | 4 to 12 years imprisonment, $24,000 fine, $199,000 restitution |
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Anna Sorokin Early Life
Anna Sorokin was born on January 23, 1991, in Domodedovo, a working-class town south of Moscow, in the Soviet Union. Her father, Vadim, worked as a truck driver, while her mother ran a small convenience store. In 2007, when Sorokin was 16, her family moved to North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. There, her father became an executive at a transport company until it went bankrupt in 2013, after which he started an HVAC business focused on energy efficiency. Her mother was a stay-at-home parent. Sorokin attended the Bischöfliche Liebfrauenschule Eschweiler, a Catholic school, where she was known to be quiet and struggled with the German language. As a young adult, she developed a keen interest in fashion, regularly following Vogue, fashion blogs, and image accounts on LiveJournal and Flickr.
After graduating in June 2011, Sorokin moved to London to study at Central Saint Martins, an art school, but she dropped out shortly afterward and returned to Germany. In 2012, she briefly interned at a public relations company in Berlin before moving to Paris, where she worked for Purple, a French fashion magazine, earning around €400 per month. Although Sorokin did not keep in close contact with her parents, they helped subsidize her rent. During this time, she began using the name “Anna Delvey,” which she claimed was derived from her mother’s maiden name, though her parents later stated that they did not recognize this surname.
Anna Sorokin Bio
Event | Details |
Birth | Anna Sorokin was born on January 23, 1991, in Domodedovo, a town south of Moscow, Soviet Union. |
Family Background | Her father, Vadim, worked as a truck driver, and her mother owned a convenience store. |
Relocation to Germany | In 2007, at age 16, Sorokin and her family moved to Germany, where her father became a transport executive. |
Schooling | Attended Bischöfliche Liebfrauenschule Eschweiler in Germany, where she struggled with the German language. |
Fashion Interests and Early Career
Event | Description |
Interest in Fashion | From a young age, Sorokin obsessively followed fashion magazines like Vogue and blogs. |
Internship in Berlin | In 2012, Sorokin interned briefly at a PR company in Berlin. |
Move to Paris | Moved to Paris and interned for the French fashion magazine Purple, earning around €400/month. |
Adoption of ‘Anna Delvey’ Name | Around 2013, Sorokin began using the name “Anna Delvey,” which she claimed was inspired by her mother’s maiden name. |
Move to New York and Rise to Fame
Event | Details |
Move to New York | In 2013, Sorokin relocated to New York City and interned for the fashion magazine Purple. |
Development of Arts Foundation | Sorokin conceived the idea of a private members’ club and arts foundation in NYC. |
Forged Documents | Created fake documents to claim a multi-million-euro trust fund, tricking financial institutions. |
Lavish Lifestyle | Used fraudulent checks and forged wire transfer confirmations to fund her luxurious lifestyle. |
Criminal Activities and Arrest
Event | Facts |
Fraudulent Claims | Posed as a wealthy heiress to gain access to exclusive social events in New York. |
Deceptions of Banks and Hotels | Defrauded banks and hotels, tricking them into funding her lifestyle. |
Rachel Williams’ Involvement | Sorokin’s former friend, Rachel Williams, helped expose her fraudulent activities. |
Arrest | Sorokin was arrested in 2017 after a sting operation, with Williams assisting authorities. |
Court Case and Conviction
Event | Points |
Court Conviction | In 2019, Sorokin was convicted of grand larceny, second-degree larceny, and theft of services. |
Sentencing | She was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison, along with a $24,000 fine and restitution of $199,000. |
Parole | Sorokin served two years before being released on parole, only to face immigration detention shortly afterward. |
Release and Media Attention
Event | Description |
Media Coverage | Sorokin’s story was widely covered in Vanity Fair and New York, leading to significant media attention. |
Netflix Deal | Sorokin received $320,000 from Netflix for the rights to her story, which was turned into the miniseries Inventing Anna. |
Public Appearances | Her story became the subject of books, podcasts, interviews, and theater productions. |
Fashion and Social Media Involvement
Event | Facts |
Fashion Week 2023 | Hosted a fashion event in 2023 during New York Fashion Week while under house arrest. |
Collaboration with Kelly Cutrone | Worked with publicist Kelly Cutrone for the 2023 Fashion Week event. |
Social Media Presence | Sorokin maintains satire social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram. |
Fashion Walk | Walked for SHAO New York during Fashion Week in 2024. |
Personal Life
Event | Description |
Relationships | Sorokin had a boyfriend who worked in the UAE and was involved in the TED talks community. |
Controversy over Identity | Sorokin suggested she would reveal her boyfriend’s identity for a fee, but it was later revealed to be Hunter Lee Soik. |
Dancing with the Stars | Participated in Dancing with the Stars season 33 in 2024, with her ICE-mandated ankle monitor visible during the show. |
Anna Sorokin Net Worth
Anna has an estimated net worth of $50,000.
Anna Sorokin Summary
Anna Sorokin, aka Anna Delvey, became infamous for posing as a wealthy heiress in New York, deceiving banks and individuals through fraudulent documents. Her rise to fame involved significant manipulations, including fake financial claims and extravagant living, leading to her conviction in 2019 for grand larceny and theft of services. Despite her imprisonment and deportation proceedings, Sorokin continued to stay in the public eye through various media outlets, including the popular Netflix miniseries Inventing Anna. In 2024, she participated in Dancing with the Stars while under house arrest, further maintaining her controversial status in the media spotlight.
