who was molly bloom's real life lawyer

by Dr. Mauricio Haley II 8 min read

Molly's Lawyer
While Molly certainly did hire lawyers over the course of her court cases, Jaffey is an agglomeration, Sorkin's way of integrating his point of view into the movie. In fact, Sorkin didn't even interview Bloom's real-life lawyer, Jim Walden, to allow himself one wholly fictional element.
Apr 3, 2020

Is Molly Bloom’s lawyer a real person in ‘Molly’?

Dec 25, 2017 · Idris Elba's character Charlie Jaffey (left) is almost entirely fictional. Aaron Sorkin did not create him to represent Molly Bloom's real-life lawyer Jim Walden (right).

Who is Molly Bloom and why is she famous?

Oct 14, 2021 · A year later, in 2014, thanks to the advice of Jim Walden, Molly Bloom’s lawyer, she pleaded guilty to the charges of practicing an illegal underground poker game and was therefore sentenced to one-year probation and was charged a fine of $1000. She also had to do community service for not less than 200 hours in the 1 year probation period.

Why did Molly Bloom go to jail?

Apr 03, 2020 · Molly’s Lawyer. Idris Elba’s character, Charlie Jaffey, is one of the more fictional elements in Molly’s Game. While Molly certainly did hire lawyers over the course of her court cases, Jaffey is an agglomeration, Sorkin’s way of integrating his point of view into the movie.

Who is Molly Bloom’s brother?

Jul 26, 2021 · Molly published her memoirs shortly after the legal proceedings ended, and they were subsequently made into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Jessica Chastain (as Molly) and Idris Elba as her lawyer. A quiet life. Having crammed all of this into the first four decades of her life, it’s little wonder that Bloom has sought a slightly slower pace since.

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Who is Molly Bloom?

Molly Bloom is an inspirational keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and the bestselling author of Molly’s Game which was adapted into a film depicting her true life story. She was born on 21st April 1978 and grew up in Loveland, Colorado, in the United States with her father Larry Bloom who was a clinical psychologist and professor at Colorado State University.

How long was Molly Bloom in jail?

They all faced different charges but for Molly Bloom being the manager, she faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, 6 years of supervision after release, a $1.5 million fine, and $200 for a special assessment.

Why did Molly Bloom move out of her home?

Molly Bloom felt very unachieved as her brother had made it in the skiing world. She, therefore, decided to move out of their home.

How much money did Molly Bloom make?

Molly Bloom made lots of money. She once said that the most she has made in a year was $4 million. She made money from tips from handsome leading men and players in the poker tournaments she hosted through her company.

Why is Molly Bloom not allowed to travel to Canada?

Molly Bloom is not allowed in Canada because, under Canadian law related to immigration and refugee protection, anybody who has committed a crime related to gambling and betting is not permitted to enter the country unless fully cleared by the judiciary in the past 5 years. She will also have to seek a permit in case of a temporary stay request.

How much is Molly Bloom worth in 2021?

As of 2021, Molly Bloom has a net worth of $500,000. It has been highly contributed by her book, Molly’s Game, which has been a bestseller, and her businesses.

Why was Molly Bloom fined?

Molly Bloom’s downfall began in 2010 where she was fined $116,133 for failing to pay taxes due on her New York events. From then things started falling apart for Hollywood’s poker princess.

Who plays Molly Bloom?

A film adaptation of the book, also called Molly's Game, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on September 8, 2017. Jessica Chastain plays the role of Molly Bloom.

Who is Molly Bloom's parent?

Molly's Game. Parent (s) Larry Bloom. Relatives. Jeremy Bloom (brother) Colby Cohen (cousin) Molly Bloom (born April 21, 1978) is an American entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the 2014 memoir Molly's Game. She had trained for years to become an Olympic skier, but was injured while trying to qualify for the Olympics.

Why was Bloom's game shut down?

In 2011, one of Bloom's games in Los Angeles was shut down as part of a bankruptcy investigation into a Ponzi scheme run by Bradley Ruderman, one of the players. Bloom, who had received money from Ruderman as part of the game, was accused of receiving $473,000 from Ruderman's bank to settle his debts and sued by the bankruptcy trustee for $473,200, but she denied that she was involved in organizing illegal gambling. Bank records showed 19 transfers to Bloom in 2007 and 2008 for amounts up to $57,500.

When did Molly Bloom start her own business?

In 2007, Bloom started her own business, registering Molly Bloom Inc. as an event and catering company to host poker tournaments. By 2008, the games had graduated to private homes and hotels like the Peninsula Beverly Hills, with hands going as high as $4 million.

Where did Molly Bloom live?

In 2004, Bloom moved to Los Angeles and found work as a bartender. In 2004, Darin Feinstein, one of the co-owners of The Viper Room nightclub, was approached by actor Tobey Maguire about hosting a high-stakes poker game in the basement of the club. Feinstein recruited Bloom to cater to the players and manage the game. In 2007, Bloom started her own business, registering Molly Bloom Inc. as an event and catering company to host poker tournaments. By 2008, the games had graduated to private homes and hotels like the Peninsula Beverly Hills, with hands going as high as $4 million. In addition to Maguire, many wealthy people, celebrities and sports figures were known to frequent the games including Leonardo DiCaprio, Alec Gores, Macaulay Culkin, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Alex Rodriguez, Nelly, Mary Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Phil Ivey, Rick Salomon and Andy Beal.

How much was Bloom in jail?

Bloom, who was 34 at the time, faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, six years of supervised release, a fine of $1.5 million or twice the amount gained from the crimes or twice the amount lost by victims, and a $200 special assessment.

When did Molly's Game come out?

A film adaptation of her book, Molly's Game, starring Jessica Chastain and directed by Aaron Sorkin, debuted in December 2017.

Who was the prosecutor for the heroin ring?

Heroin trafficking. While an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, Walden led the prosecution of Li Yun-chung, a significant figure in an international heroin ring. U.S. Customs authorities conducted the then-largest seizure of heroin in U.S. history on June 20, 1991 in Hayward, California.

Who was the head of the Colombo crime family?

In October 1999, Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico , head of the Colombo crime family, was arrested on charges of loansharking. Walden helped build the cases against Persico. These charges resurfaced in 2001, when Persico was indicted in Brooklyn the same day he completed a 15-month prison sentence on weapons charges in Florida.

What is the settlement for the DOE?

Under the settlement, DOE was required to issue a new regulation and launch an entirely reworked system for reporting, investigating, and re-mediating bullying complaints, including by launching an electronic system so parents can track the progress of bullying investigations. The settlement also required DOE to grant a substantive new right to a safety transfer if the victim feels unsafe in the school despite other forms of remediation. Walden noted that "This settlement finally brings meaningful reform to a troubled and broken system that placed every New York City school student in dire and dangerous circumstances."

Who was the woman who was killed by Chris Ludwigsen?

Walden also successfully prosecuted Chris Paciello, aka Chris Ludwigsen, for his 1993 murder of Staten Island housewife Judith Shemtov killed during a robbery Paciello had planned in association with the Bonnanno crime family.

Who was Anthony Spero?

In 2001, Walden led the successful prosecution of Anthony Spero, a soldier and one-time acting boss of the Bonanno crime family, on murder and racketeering charges. Spero was convicted on April 5, 2001 of ordering three murders during his 20 years serving the family.

Who is Molly's lawyer?

Molly’s Lawyer. Idris Elba’s character, Charlie Jaffey, is one of the more fictional elements in Molly’s Game. While Molly certainly did hire lawyers over the course of her court cases, Jaffey is an agglomeration, Sorkin’s way of integrating his point of view into the movie.

Who plays Molly Bloom in Aaron's Sorkin?

Aaron's Sorkin's Molly's Game stars Jessica Chastain as the real-life Molly Bloom, who ran the most exclusive high-stakes poker games in the world. Molly’s Game explores the world of underground poker, following the true story of Molly Bloom, as she transforms from Olympic-level skier to hostess of the most exclusive poker club in the world, ...

What is the ending of Molly's Game?

The Molly’s Game ending brings her and her father together, where he finally acts the part of supportive parent before her trial. This scene doesn’t make it into Bloom’s memoir, although that is because she wrote it before her actual sentencing. Molly’s Game takes its inspiration from both the memoir and close work between Sorkin and Bloom herself, so Bloom was there to fill in the details between 2014, when the book was published, and 2017, when the movie hit theaters. Another minor timeline difference comes down to her book’s role in the movie. When she meets with Jaffey, he has read her memoir and come up with an opinion on her based around it. However, because the book was published between Molly’s arrest and sentencing, it is unlikely Jaffey (or his equivalent) would have had time to do this in real life.

What is Molly's game called?

The movie changes the name of the club, though. In Molly’s Game, it is called The Cobra Lounge, while the real-life poker games took place at The Viper Room, found on the Sunset Strip. The connection between the names is clear, although the movie’s tweak does remove some of the history from the location.

Who is the woman behind the poker game?

In 2014, Molly Bloom published her memoir, Molly's Game: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World. In it, Bloom is careful about who she names, and who remains anonymous. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, and Macaulay Culkin became known participants in ...

Did Walden and Jaffey vouch for Molly?

One detail from real life that did make it across is how both Jaffey and Walden really did vouch for Molly to the tune of $250,000 she didn’t have. Interestingly, the fictional law firm Jaffey works for, Gage Whitney, has made several appearances in Sorkin’s work, including in The West Wing and Studio 60.

Who is Dean Keith in Molly's game?

The movie calls him Dean Keith; Bloom’s memoir calls him Reardon Green. In real life, his name was Darin Feinstein, a co-owner of The Viper Room who brought Molly on as an executive assistant.

When did Molly Bloom start her business?

It was no surprise when Molly Bloom Inc. was registered in 2007, and she took the VIP standards delivered in LA and expanded her empire into California and New York City.

Who played Molly in the movie?

Molly published her memoirs shortly after the legal proceedings ended, and they were subsequently made into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Jessica Chastain (as Molly) and Idris Elba as her lawyer.

Who is Mariella Blankenship?

Mariella Blankenship | Mariella is an SEO writer who helps companies improve their Google search rankings. Her work has appeared in a variety of e-zine publications. She writes articles for site-reference newletter.com on a daily basis about SEO techniques. Her articles strive to strike a balance between being insightful and meeting SEO requirements–but never at the cost of being enjoyable to read.

Is Molly the Poker Princess addicted to drugs?

In recovery after becoming addicted to drugs during her stint as the ‘Poker Princess’, Molly – along with her husband, who is also a recovering addict – is set to launch an app that will help those suffering from similar afflictions to seek the help and guidance they need.

Did Bloom get charged with bankruptcy?

A bankruptcy investigation saw Bloom implicated, and while no charges were brought against her on this instance, it wasn’t long before the authorities came snooping once more.

Who is Bradley Ruderman?

Bradley Ruderman, a high-profile businessman, was a regular player at Bloom’s LA table.

Who is Molly's brother?

Her parents’ successes are well-documented, but to add insult to injury, Molly’s brother Jeremy did compete in the Olympics as a skier and also played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, while her other brother Jordan is a surgeon in Massachusetts.

When was Molly Bloom arrested?

Dec. 27, 2017. When Molly Bloom was drowning in debt and arrested for hosting illegal gambling events in 2013, she was probably too busy facing the possibility of spending a decade behind bars to even fantasize about her life becoming a major motion picture. Not even she could have guessed where the real Molly Bloom is now.

How long did Bloom work with Aaron?

"I worked pretty closely with Aaron and his team for around six months all day, every day and then homework assignments," Bloom told The Hollywood Reporter.

What was Molly's game about?

In 2013, she was arrested and charged as a part of a huge operation that took down over 30 people. Bloom eventually pleaded guilty to lesser charges in 2014, and a few months later, released her memoir Molly's Game: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World.

What does Bloom get from Player X?

How it plays out in the movie: After the heated exchange about her tips, Bloom receives a text from Player X that says the game will take place at another venue—rather than the hotel she had set up for everyone—and there was no need for her to show up. She then gets a call from the cackling celeb, who triumphantly tells her, “You are so fucked.”

Who played Player X in Molly's Game?

In her time running the game, Bloom crossed paths with A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Nelly, and even Alex Rodriguez, so there are many sources of inspiration for Player X, played by a twitchy Michael Cera in Molly’s Game.

Who is Eustice in Chastain's Bloom?

As Chastain’s Bloom points out, this is usury. Eustice is an on-screen stand-in for television producer Houston Curtis, who had the same lopsided arrangement with the actor—though Curtis said Maguire eventually let the debt slide.

Does Bloom take shots at Maguire?

It’s telling that in her book, Bloom is careful not to take shots at other celebrities—but she lets Maguire’s actions speak for themselves, and it’s all quite horrifying. Here are some of Bloom’s stories about Maguire that made it into Sorkin’s big-screen adaptation.

Who plays Maguire in the book?

That is true, but Maguire, as portrayed in the book and on screen by Cera, is more than that: He’s a sinister figure who takes pleasure in, as he puts it in the film, “destroying [the] lives” of his fellow players, and eventually Bloom herself.

Who is Rick Salomon?

Rick Salomon. Salomon is probably best known for the sex tape he made with then-girlfriend Paris Hilton in 2004, but he’s a big-time poker player in his own right: He won $2.8 million at the 2014 World Series of Poker's Big One for One Drop event. In Molly’s Game, both sides of his persona are on display.

Did Bloom take a rake in the movie?

How it plays out in the movie: Initially, Bloom didn’t take a rake —a percentage of the pot in hands—which made the questionable legality of running the poker games a little less questionable. Bloom made her money on the tips she got from players, which, as the games’ buy-ins increased, grew larger and larger.

How old is Molly Bloom?

Who is Molly Bloom? Molly Bloom was born on April 21, 1978, which makes her age be 42 years old as of 2020. By profession, she is an American entrepreneur, as well as a speaker, is best known for being the author of the 2014 memoir Molly’s Game.

Where did Molly Bloom move to?

Bloom moved to Los Angeles in 2004 where she initially started serving as a cocktail waitress. She was recruited by Darin Feinstein where she was made responsible to manage the game and cater to the players. Gaining a couple of year of experience in the field, she started her own business in 2007 by registering Molly Bloom Inc.

Is Molly Bloom a millionaire?

Talking about Molly Bloom’s net worth, she is a former millionaire. She has been in the debt after the legal issues for which she has struggled for years. Her financial condition got worst when her mother Charlene remortgaged her home to meet Bloom’s legal bills.

When was Bloom arrested?

She introduced sophisticated dealing equipment and also hired girls from 1 Oak and Avenue. Bloom was arrested by the officials on April 16, 2013, and the charges made upon her was money laundering case of a $100 million and operating illegal sports gambling.

When was Molly's game made?

Molly appears into the limelight after a film based on her book titled Molly’s Game was released on December 25, 2017 , in the United States. It was directed by Aaron Sorkin starring Jessica Chastain, Jeremy Strong, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Bill Camp and Chris O’Dowd.

Who is Jordan Bloom?

Her brother Jordan Bloom is a successful surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. Bloom was a competitive skier where she was able to rank herself in the third position during Nor-Am Cup for women’s moguls skiers.

Who plays Molly in Molly's Game?

It was first premiered on September 8, 2017, at the Toronto Film Festival. Her character was portrayed by actress Jessica Chastain.

Why was Molly arrested?

On April 16, 2013, Molly was arrested as part of a money-laundering operation using illegal gambling.

What shows has Molly been on?

In addition, Molly has appeared on many media outlets and shows such as Vulture, NPR, The Los Angeles Times, Vice , and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

What is Molly's game based on?

The film “Molly’s Game” was released in 2017. It was based on Molly’s memoir about running an underground poker game.

When did Molly leave skiing?

You have to have a relationship with fear, and it can’t dominate the decision-making process.”. But, Molly walked away from the sport in 2002. In 2003, she found a job as a waitress in a club in LA.

Does Molly have plans to return to poker?

In an interview, Molly said that she has no plans to return to the poker world despite her tendency toward high stakes.

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Overview

Molly Bloom (born April 21, 1978) is an American entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the 2014 memoir Molly's Game. She had trained for years to become an Olympic skier, but was injured while trying to qualify for the Olympics.
In April 2013, she was charged with running a high-stakes poker game that originated in the Viper Room in Los Angeles, which attracted wealthy people, sports figures, and Hollywoodcelebrities. I…

Early life and education

Law career

Career as a federal prosecutor

Private sector

James Walden (born January 19, 1966) is an American lawyer. After serving in the U.S Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York from 1993 to 2002, he entered private practice where he was involved in several prominent white-collar and antitrust cases in addition to a series of cases seeking governmental reform. He represents Dr. Grigory Rodch…

"Good government" cases

Walden received his B.A. from Hamilton College. He graduated magna cum laude from Temple University School of Law in 1991 where he was first in his class.

U.S. v. Mark Hazelwood, et al

Following law school, Walden clerked for Anthony J. Scirica in the U.S Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Walden then joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. He served in this capacity for nearly nine years before turning to private practice. Walden spent three years as a partner with O'Melveny & Myers LLP before joining the New York office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP in 2006. In 2015, Walden left Gibson Dunn to found Wa…

Representation of Brittany Kaiser

While an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, Walden led the prosecution of Li Yun-chung, a significant figure in an international heroin ring. U.S. Customs authorities conducted the then-largest seizure of heroin in U.S. history on June 20, 1991, in Hayward, California. Approximately three-quarters of a ton of heroin was seized with a street value of $2.5-$3 billion. Li was indicted in U.S. District Court in May 1996.