When most people his age were still figuring out what they wanted to do for a living, Josh Shapiro had a clear-cut plan — make as much money as possible.

In his early 20s, he was pulling down tens of thousands of dollars a month, working hard and partying harder at Stratton Oakmont, the notorious Long Island boiler room that sold investors the moon but delivered sawdust.

After high school, I joined the Marines. I was the only Jew in the Marines at the time — or one of the few, for sure. Maybe you should go and check it out. I was a little hesitant at first. I had no interest in stock brokerage. So then I walked into the board room, a humongous room with people in it. Everyone on the phone, people standing up, people screaming into the phones, and Porush had a big old office in the corner, with golden golf clubs and souvenirs and signed baseballs — just a really lavish office.

Do you want to make a million dollars a year? This is how you do it. I was blown away by the intensity — you could feel the pulse when you walked into the place.

It was like walking into a nightclub without the music. The music was the phones and the people talking. The energy was just unbounding and unstoppable, and you wanted to be a part of it. It was almost cultish, and you were hooked in from Day 1. The office was basically separated into two parts: The cold callers were dressed in Van Heusen shirts and ties — nothing too expensive. The guys in the front were sporting Armani, Boss, slicked back hair.

Do you want to be rich? You know, you should have slit your throat when you were shaving this morning. He would come out at other times, completely stewed out of his mind on Quaaludes. Stand on the desk, then fall onto the floor. Or he would come out angry, pick up a computer — and these are the old CRT monitors — and smash it on the floor as hard as he possibly could.

For me, it was Van Heusen at first. Worked my tail off. There was a script with all these rebuttals, pages passed around the office constantly, with better rebuttals. I showed a lot of initiative, and I stayed late.

I was now in Armani suits, Ferragamo shoes, Valentino ties. I would stay all night.

Stock Brokers Marlin

I would adjust my hours to call potential customers at home. All you had to do was get past the wife. The guys were more relaxed to talk at home. They were willing to listen a little more. Danny offered to buy a car if I opened up 30 accounts in a month. I ate dozens of Quaaludes, pounded my clients, and got the 30 accounts — but two wound up not paying. Belfort was behind the scenes, but a god, because it was all his idea. He was revered like nothing else.

You got on the phone and pushed a stock that people know, say, Dr. There was no way to win. And it worked because everyone wanted to make money. But these were not grandmothers we were calling on the phone. These were qualified investors, who had, basically, a gambling habit. The drug use was rampant. I took Quaaludes as much as possible, maybe three or four a day.

They were called Lemmon s. They made you super aggressive on the phone, so any sort of inhibitions you would have would be lost. So the Quaaludes would take away those inhibitions. There were other perks — the Gina girls. The bosses would offer them up based on our performance.

And the Gina girls also knew how to take care of you, too. We took some Mexican Quaaludes, some things called Mandrax.

They had this other girl who liked to go to all the parties in Atlantic City, and they rented a bus for 40 people, and she had oral sex with everybody on the bus, all 40 people. I wound up taking her out of the business, and I dated her for a year and half.

The future was right here and now. But eventually, the blindness from the drugs, the girls and the cars, the clothes and the money, wore off. These people were some of the worst people that I have ever met in my life — they would sell their own grandmother in a second.

My parents want to go with me. Just the wild ride. I got to the point where I realized there was no way you could win. When I am giving back, I get a good feeling — I feel like I am absolving myself. But the guilt follows you a little bit, still. FAO Schwarz piano still a hit 25 years after 'Big'. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use Privacy Your Ad Choices. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Your existing password has not been changed.

MRLN stock quote - Marlin Business Services Corp. Common Stock price - fadukuvo.web.fc2.com

News Metro Page Six Sports Business Opinion Entertainment Fashion Living Media Tech Real Estate Sub Menu 1 Video Photos Covers Columnists Horoscopes Sub Menu 2 Email Newsletters Home Delivery. Cops urge author to end deadly treasure hunt with cult following. Flynn received highly classified info despite blackmail fears. Marco Rubio laughs off picture of 'failed' Ivanka hug. Scandal-plagued Uber founder Travis Kalanick resigns as CEO.

Saudi Arabia's king upends royal succession, names son as 1st heir. Trump takes veiled shot at Obama for Warmbier's late release. Mom caught on hospital camera trying to smother baby: Preschool bound tot with duct tape for refusing to nap: GOP senators working on health care still haven't seen bill. Family sues water park after teen's brain-eating amoeba death. Sleepy burglary suspect caught taking nap in home.

Facebook Twitter Google Facebook Messenger WhatsApp Email Copy. View author archive Get author RSS feed. Modal Trigger Josh Shapiro lived the high life during the s and drove a red Porsche.

Paramount Pictures The office was basically separated into two parts: As Stratton Oakmont grew, masterminds Jordan Belfort DiCaprio and Danny Porush had to find new ways to transport their cash. Paramount Pictures Danny offered to buy a car if I opened up 30 accounts in a month.

Bait and switch You got on the phone and pushed a stock that people know, say, Dr. The Gina girls The drug use was rampant.

I left a couple of months before the FBI came and shut down the place. The guilt still lingers for Josh Shapiro. Read Next FAO Schwarz piano still a hit 25 years after 'Big'. Trending Now on NYPost. Jay Z is changing his name — sort of. Here's Some Clues As To What REALLY Went Down On 'Bachelor In Paradise'? New York Post Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Messenger Email Email Newsletters Mobile Apps Contact Us Tips.

News Corp HarperCollins Marketwatch realtor. Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address document. Post was not sent - check your email addresses!

Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. With your existing account from Use an account with your email address Or with a NYPost. Use an account with your email address.

Or use another account. Create a new password Forgot Password? Create a new password Sent!