Is the Netflix Show Inventing Anna a True Story?

The Netflix show ‘Inventing Anna’ is a series about a con artist and her journey through New York City. The show is based on the real-life story of Anna Delvey, a German heiress who scammed her way into the city’s elite social circles. However, while the show is based on true events, it’s not necessarily an accurate portrayal of what really happened.

Anna Delvey was born in Germany in 1988 and moved to New York City in 2016. She claimed to be an heiress with millions of dollars in inherited wealth and used her assumed status to live lavishly and get access to exclusive parties, restaurants, and hotels. However, she was actually broke and financed her lifestyle by bilking people out of money or failing to pay her debts.

The Show follows Anna’s exploits as she moves through the high-society scene, making friends with celebrities like the Olsen twins and manipulating those around her for her own gain. While the show does draw from some real-life events involving Delvey, it is not an exact retelling of what happened. For example, some characters have been added for dramatic effect or simply invented for the story.

The Reality behind Anna Delvey’s story is much darker than depicted in the show. She was arrested in 2018 for charges including grand larceny and theft of services after defrauding banks, hotels, restaurants, private jet companies and other victims out of tens of thousands of dollars.

She was found guilty on all counts but avoided jail time due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions; instead she was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay back nearly $250,000 in restitution fees.

Conclusion:

Is ‘Inventing Anna’ a true story? While the Netflix series does draw from some real life events involving Anna Delvey, it is not an exact retelling of what happened; some characters have been added or invented for dramatic effect. The reality behind Delvey’s story is much darker than depicted in the show – she was found guilty on all counts but avoided jail time due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions; instead she was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay back nearly $250,000 in restitution fees.