Anna Delvey, born Anna Sorokin, is under 24-hour house arrest in New York City. Despite these restrictions, she remains active in various ventures, including producing art, hosting a podcast and competing on Dancing with the Stars.
Delvey's journey from a fake heiress to a convicted con artist has garnered public interest, especially after the release of the Netflix show Inventing Anna. Her current activities show that she's determined to stay in the spotlight, even though her legal status remains uncertain.
Inventing Anna is a drama on Anna Delvey's life available on Netflix. It tracks her ascent through the elite social circles of New York City by passing for a rich heiress.
Starring Julia Garner, the show emphasizes how Delvey misled hotels, banks and friends before being finally arrested. Viewers saw through Inventing Anna how Delvey manipulated her way into luxury, leading to her conviction for several fraud-related charges.
The official synopsis of the show says:
"Audacious entrepreneur or con artist? A journalist chases down the story of Anna Delvey, who convinced New York's elite she was a German heiress."
Anna Delvey lately made news by returning on social media. She started sharing on Instagram following a judge's August 2024 lifting of her social media ban.
She said that she was appreciative of her ability to control her own story once more, indicating a major change in her ability to interact with her audience. Delvey has sparked public interest in her next actions once she has more liberty to tell her side of the story.
Anna Delvey's rise and fall
Anna Delvey became well-known after her 2017 arrest for defrauding New York City's elite. She pretended to be a rich heiress, fooling companies and individuals into handing her goods and money.
In 2019, she was found guilty on grand larceny and theft of services. Although Delvey served almost four years before her release in 2021 for good behaviour, her false schemes resulted in her sentence of four to twelve years in prison.
Delvey overstayed her visa, which led Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take her into custody after release. Spending a year in ICE custody, she was under risk of deportation to Germany.
Delvey worked on several projects and penned essays during this period to remain relevant — even while she was incarcerated. Her desire to be a media personality despite her criminal background is shown by her fortitude in keeping in public view.
Inventing Anna and its impact
The release of Inventing Anna in 2022 piqued curiosity in Anna Delvey's life once more. Designed by Shonda Rhimes, the show portrayed Delvey's ability to negotiate New York's social scene by passing for a rich socialite.
Delvey was portrayed by actress Julia Garner, who gave the character its charm and guverness life. The program looked at Delvey's manipulations, lavish lifestyle, and eventual breakdown of her false plans.
Creating Anna not only brought attention to Delvey's crimes but also begged issues regarding her reasons. Viewers left wondering if she was a deliberate fraudster or a victim of her own aspirations.
Delvey's reputation as a pop culture icon was cemented by the Netflix series, which made sure her story would enthrall viewers long beyond her incarceration.
Anna Delvey's return to Instagram
In August 2024, a judge allowed Anna Delvey to return to social media, lifting a previous ban imposed during her house arrest. Delvey quickly resumed posting on Instagram under the handle @theannadelvey.
Her return was met with intrigue, as she expressed excitement about controlling her narrative again. The move reflects Delvey's desire to shift away from the "scammer" label that has followed her since her conviction.
She said:
"I’m grateful and thrilled to be able to control my own narrative once again on social media,"
Delvey’s Instagram posts often showcase her life under house arrest, where she continues to engage in creative projects, from art exhibitions to podcasting. Her return to social media allows her to reconnect with her audience and potentially reshape public perception.
However, many remain skeptical of her intentions, questioning whether it's another attempt to maintain relevance or a genuine effort to change.
What is Anna Delvey doing now?
Anna Delvey has remained busy despite legal problems. Starting The Anna Delvey Show, a podcast covering a spectrum of subjects, including art to the criminal justice system, she recorded from her East Village apartment, where she's still under house arrest, Delvey wants to change her reputation from the fraudster tag that has defined her in the media.
Anna Delvey now also works in the arts. She had her first solo art exhibition in 2022 called Allegedly, including drawings produced while she was in ICE custody. With pieces valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, Delvey's artwork has attracted much interest.
Her artistic activities have let her explore fresh approaches of expression while still limited to her house.
The next chapter: Dancing with the Stars and beyond
Anna Delvey recently joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars, paired with professional dancer Ezra Sosa. That marks another step in her effort to reinvent herself and stay in the public eye.
While still under house arrest, Delvey’s participation in the show has sparked curiosity about how she will navigate the competition and whether this will help her achieve a new public image.
Apart from her appearance on Dancing with the Stars, Delvey has signed contracts for a new docuseries and a reality show, Delved's Dinner Club. These shows will chronicle her life beyond prison and provide viewers with behind-the-scenes access to her continuous efforts at reputation rebuilding.
Anna Delvey is quite skilled in reinventions. She never fails to enthral the public from her time as a false heiress to her current endeavours in art, podcasting and reality TV. Delvey's comeback to social media and performance in Dancing with the Stars demonstrate her will to remain relevant despite her criminal record.
Although many still doubt her motives, Delvey's ability to change and keep centre stage guarantees that her story is far from finished. It's yet unknown whether she will be successful in trying to change her image.