The Unbelievable Transformation of Anna Delvey: From Scamming New York to a Life No One Saw Coming

Summary

Anna Delvey's story was immortalized in the Netflix series "Inventing Anna," but it faced controversy for leaving out facts and glamorizing a convicted criminal.

In New York City, Anna Delvey resides and sustains a luxurious way of life by selling art and hosting the podcast "The Anna Delvey Show." Delvey is currently involved in various endeavors, such as a documentary series that follows on from "Inventing Anna" and a reality show titled "Delvey's Dinner Club," although their release and airing remain uncertain.

Anna Delvey, known for her 2019 grand larceny convictions, gained further attention through the Netflix series Inventing Anna, leaving many curious about her current activities. Produced by Shonda Rhimes, the 2022 drama revolves around a journalist's quest to uncover Anna's story and reveal how she deceived New York City's affluent citizens. Julia Garner portrayed Anna in the series, earning an Emmy nomination for her captivating depiction of the mysterious and elusive Russian-born criminal.

Although the Inventing Anna miniseries captivated viewers, it faced criticism for omitting certain facts, thus distorting the true narrative. While Delvey, also known as Sorokin, made for an intriguing protagonist, the decision to glorify a convicted criminal raised ethical concerns. Nevertheless, Delvey's story propelled her to instant fame, prompting both fascination and criticism from a captivated audience. Since her conviction in 2019, Anna has remained active, proving that her tale extends beyond the final episode of Netflix's series.

Where Anna Delvey Is Now

The Inventing Anna series concluded with Delvey's conviction, providing a brief glimpse into the life of the fraudulent German heiress after her sentencing. In reality, Anna Delvey received a prison sentence ranging from 4 to 12 years for grand larceny and various other charges. Additionally, she was required to pay restitution amounting to nearly $200,000 to the entities she deceived (source: The New York Times). Controversially, Netflix paid Delvey $320,000 for her story, but the "Son of Sam Law" compelled her to allocate the majority of the money towards restitution.

As of 2023, Delvey continues to reside in New York City and sustains a somewhat extravagant lifestyle, largely due to the proceeds from her art sales. As of late 2022, these sales have accumulated over $300,000 for her (source: ART News). Delvey has been notably expressive about Netflix's popular drama series; however, she disclosed that she will not watch Inventing Anna amidst her ongoing legal issues. Despite being confined to her residence since her release, Delvey has managed to stay in the public eye through her significant presence on social media and the launch of her podcast, The Anna Delvey Show, in 2023.

Delvey’s Immigration Troubles

According to Vulture, the show, often labeled a "con", serves as an endeavor to refurbish her reputation and solidify her relevance while she remains confined to her house. Anna Delvey pointed out to The Associated Press that numerous individuals have gained fame for their wrongdoing and managed to redirect their narrative in a different direction, and she believes that a podcast would be an ideal medium to achieve just that. Interestingly, she describes the podcast as a tale of "productive rule-breaking," which can be perceived as a clever irony given her own checkered past.

Anna Delvey, who had served two years on larceny charges, was released from prison in early 2021. However, her freedom was short-lived as she was apprehended by ICE just six weeks later for overstaying her visa. Initially facing deportation to Germany, Delvey decided to contest the proceedings with the help of her lawyer. This resulted in her being held in detention for over a year at the Orange County immigration facility in New Jersey. Even during her time in custody, Delvey managed to embroil herself in another controversy. In 2022, she joined a class action lawsuit against ICE filed by the ACLU, alleging mishandling of COVID-19 vaccinations. This development further added to the complexities surrounding her legal situation (via NBC News).

Ultimately, Anna Delvey was able to avoid deportation from the US and was released from ICE custody in October 2022 upon posting a $10 thousand bond. As part of her parole conditions, she is subjected to 24-hour house arrest, severely restricting her movements and mandating her to remain confined to her residence. She is only permitted to leave for essential medical treatments and meetings with authorities (via Variety). Even during her time in ICE custody, Delvey managed to capitalize on her notoriety by organizing a pop-up art show titled "Allegedly." She made a remote appearance through a prerecorded message from her incarceration location.

Anna Delvey’s Documentary Series

While the cast of Netflix's Inventing Anna brought the story to life on screen, Delvey herself did not have direct involvement in the process. Consequently, in early 2022, Deadline reported that Anna Delvey was developing her own documentary series. However, this series will not retell the familiar narrative of her crimes. Instead, it will reportedly pick up where Inventing Anna left off, delving into her life after her incarceration. The production is in the hands of Bunim/Murray Productions, renowned for their raucous reality TV hits, such as The Real World.

In the same Deadline report, Bunim/Murray's representative labeled the project as "the next installment in her ever-evolving story" and portrayed Delvey as "a complex and captivating character". Despite the lack of recent developments since the February 2022 announcement, the report mentioned that the documentary series was being pitched to various networks and platforms. Considering Delvey's public persona, it is highly probable that Bunim/Murray will encounter no difficulty in finding a suitor to acquire the series.

“Delvey’s Dinner Club” - Her Reality Show Explained

As her behind-the-scenes documentary series continues to generate buzz, Anna Delvey has unveiled yet another project to stay in the limelight. Delvey’s Dinner Club, a reality series scheduled for January 2023, will showcase the fraudulent con artist hosting exclusive dinners in her luxurious New York City apartment. With a guest list comprising famous musicians, actors, and socialites, the focus of these intimate gatherings will revolve around discussions on the criminal justice system and Delvey’s notorious reputation (via People).

The show is created in collaboration with Butternut, a lifestyle media brand headed by Courtney White, formerly the president of Food Network. Similar to her mysterious documentary series, there have been no updates since her announcement in early 2023, and no guests have been disclosed. Despite the abundance of news surrounding Delvey's Dinner Club, no network or streaming platform has secured the show, leaving its actual airing uncertain.

The Rooftop Fashion Show

Delvey's Dinner Party announcement and the launch of her podcast sidelined the controversial con artist who, most likely because of her house arrest, largely avoided the spotlight. However, in September 2023, Delvey surprised and impressed her long-time followers by making a public appearance. New York City's Fashion Week is a pivotal moment in the art scene, and despite being under 24-hour house arrest, Delvey was not denied the opportunity to participate. CNN reported that she hosted her own fashion show on the rooftop of her apartment building, drawing a decent crowd.

The show served as a platform for designer Shao Yang and was organized by Delvey and publicist Kelly Cutrone in their joint venture, OutLaw. The duo specializes in hosting pop-up style events, similar to the one held on the rooftop. While the future of Delvey in the fashion industry remains uncertain, it is evident that New York's high society has forgiven the woman who caused them so much distress.

What Is Anna Delvey's Legacy?

As Anna Delvey's story remains unresolved, it becomes challenging to predict how history will ultimately perceive her. Some portray Delvey as a contemporary Robin Hood who targets the wealthy, as portrayed in publications like The Wire. Conversely, outlets like The Daily Illini view her as an unmerciful criminal who victimizes not only the wealthy but the middle class as well. Nevertheless, Delvey's lasting reputation will be shaped by her actions in the near future and her handling of the fame she avidly sought. Inventing Anna served as a mere chapter in her tale, while the remainder is yet to unfold.