Scorsese's film is striking in its ability to bring the audience into the party of the narrative. As Jordan and his cronies continue to make more and more money, they also continue to spend it on everything from drugs and sex, to buying people's loyalty. The scary part about the way this film is made is that Scorsese makes you want to be part of it. What he's saying, arguably, is that this level of riches is alluring; once you're there and learn you can get away with it, it's easy to carry on until you're so far out of control that all you can do is keep going.
The film is lit in a way that is fluorescent throughout - meaning that while these people are doing horrible things, ruining lives, they are doing it in the light of day and under the glow of capitalism at its worst. The lighting throughout the film relates to these "businessmen" believing they can get away with anything, and the color palette of clothing along with the set design reveals that these wolves fit right into society in a way that they are now at the top of the food chain. And all others, like most of the audience, want to be them and will act like them in order to reap that type of profit and false freedom.
This lifestyle leads to Belfort's arrest and eventual imprisonment. And that eventually led to a book deal and a $1,000,000 payout for Belfort to the film rights. It's hard to tell if this is a morality story as you feel sticky or culpable for watching as your morality, or lack thereof, is throttled throughout. Maybe that's Scorsese's point.
