Offered on Netflix, the series by Shonda Rhimes “Inventing Anna” returns to the manipulations of Anna Delvey, a young woman who fooled New York high society. To deliver the rights to her story, the scammer received a handsome sum.
It’s no longer a surprise: Inventing Anna is inspired by a true story. It is even one of the main selling points. The story of the scams of Anna Delvey, a fake rich German heiress, was destined to become a series as her manipulations are beyond comprehension.
To mount the project, designer Shonda Rhimes bought the rights toan article of Vanity Fairentitled My Glorious Misadventure With a Manhattan Magician, published in 2018. It is written by Rachel Deloache Williams, former friend of the scammer. But to use Anna Delvey’s real name, the series team also had to purchase rights from the relevant principal.
The former New York socialite received $320,000 from Netflix. New York State deemed the amount indecent and filed a lawsuit against the platform. However, one of the judges authorizes the payment, affirming that it makes it possible to absorb the debts of the defendant. The latter had scammed a large number of hotels, restaurants and friends.
Inventing Anna on Netflix: the real Anna Delvey has seen the series and gives her opinion!
In total, she allegedly stole more than $275,000. Following her judgment, in 2019, Anna Delvey was ordered to reimburse her victims $199,000, not including an additional fine of $24,000. As for the note for attorneys’ fees, it amounts to 77,000 dollars.
In the United States, a law, called The Law of the Son of Sam, prevents criminals from profiting from their misdeeds. This injunction was created in 1977 when serial killer David Berkowitz – also nicknamed the Son of Sam – was courted by several publishing houses to write his memoirs. The case of Anna Delvey is therefore an exception to the rule for a good cause.
Inventing Anna is available on Netflix.