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Crime & Justice • Fraud

Anna Delvey

Anna Delvey is the alias of Anna Sorokin, a Russian-born fraudster who posed as a wealthy German heiress in New York City.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Anna Delvey is the alias of Anna Sorokin, a Russian-born fraudster who posed as a wealthy German heiress in New York City. Between 2013 and 2017, she deceived friends, hotels, banks, and businesses to finance a luxury lifestyle before being arrested and convicted of theft-related crimes.

Background

Anna Sorokin was born on January 23, 1991, in Russia and later lived in Germany before moving to New York City, where she used the name Anna Delvey. She claimed to be a wealthy heiress and inserted herself into elite social and fashion circles.

Fraud case

Prosecutors said she used fake financial documents and deceptive promises to obtain money, hotel stays, and services. She was charged with theft and grand larceny-related offences and convicted in 2019.

Imprisonment and immigration custody

Sorokin was released from prison in February 2021 after serving part of her sentence, but immigration authorities later detained her for visa overstaying. Sources in 2022 and 2024 describe her as under house arrest in New York City.

Public profile

Her story became the basis for the Netflix series Inventing Anna and other documentaries and news features. She later appeared in celebrity and media projects, which kept her in public view.

Key facts

  • Anna Delvey is the alias of Anna Sorokin, who posed as a wealthy heiress in New York.
  • Between 2013 and 2017, she defrauded hotels, banks, and associates with false claims and documents.
  • She was arrested in 2017, convicted in 2019, and sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison.
  • After her release in 2021, immigration authorities detained her for visa overstaying.
  • As of 2024, she is under house arrest in New York, pending deportation proceedings.
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Canadian context

Canadian interest is mainly through international streaming coverage and entertainment news about Inventing Anna and related true-crime documentaries. Her case is also a reference point in discussions of fraud, identity deception, and media portrayals of crime.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Anna Delvey?
Anna Delvey is the alias used by Anna Sorokin, a Russian-born con artist who posed as a wealthy heiress in New York and was later convicted of theft-related crimes.
How did Anna Delvey get caught?
She was arrested in 2017 after unpaid bills, false financial claims, and failed attempts to secure money and credit brought police attention to her activities.
What happened to Anna Delvey?
She was convicted in 2019, sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison, released in 2021, then detained by immigration authorities for overstaying her visa.
Is Anna Delvey still in jail?
No. Reports in 2024 describe her as living under house arrest in New York, not in prison or jail.
What is Anna Delvey's net worth?
No reliable public source gives a verified net worth. She was widely reported to have fraudulently obtained tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that is not the same as personal net worth.
What Anna Delvey documentary is there?
Her case was covered in multiple documentaries and dramatizations, and it inspired the Netflix series Inventing Anna. News features and profiles also examine the real-life fraud case.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Delvey
    Supports: Birth name, alias, background, timeline, and general case details.
  2. People — https://people.com/crime/inventing-anna-true-story/
    Supports: Biography, later house arrest reporting, and overview of the case.
  3. Vogue — https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/who-is-anna-delvey
    Supports: Conviction, sentence, release, and later public appearances.
  4. The Week — https://theweek.com/culture/1020614/who-is-anna-delvey
    Supports: Arrest, release, and later immigration custody/house arrest reporting.
  5. WWD — https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/who-is-anna-delvey-details-crimes-breakdown-1235068577/
    Supports: Sentence, release, and immigration custody details.
  6. SheKnows — https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/slideshow/2534424/who-is-anna-delvey-netflix-inventing-anna/
    Supports: Arrest timeline, conviction, prison, and deportation-related custody.
  7. BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2y0YkZKvGD9MgVXqY1bl63z/fake-heiress-the-woman-who-scammed-new-york
    Supports: Identity as a fake heiress and lack of inherited wealth.
  8. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8nr405lpwo
    Supports: Dancing With the Stars participation and description of Inventing Anna as based on her story.