What Is Frank Abagnale's Net Worth?
Frank Abagnale is an American security consultant with a net worth of $10 million. Formerly known for his criminal activities as a check forger and impostor, Abagnale's life took a significant turn. He became a notorious figure, claiming to have assumed no fewer than eight identities. His story inspired the feature film "Catch Me If You Can," with Leonardo DiCaprio portraying him.
Early Life
Frank William Abagnale Jr. was born on April 27, 1948, in Bronxville, New York, to a French mother and an Italian-American father. He spent his early years in New Rochelle, New York. His parents separated when he was 12, and they divorced three years later. Frank then moved to Mount Vernon, New York, with his father. By the age of 21, he had already escaped police custody twice. Participating in his father's business dealings taught him much about white-collar crime. As a teenager, he advanced from petty crimes to more sophisticated schemes.
His first victim was his father at age 15. Using his father's gas credit card, he convinced gas station attendants to give him cash in exchange for a portion of the sale. This scam fell apart when his father received the credit card bill. Frank enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1964 but was discharged after three months and soon arrested for forgery. He was arrested again in 1965 for car theft in Eureka, California, after stealing a Ford Mustang from a neighbor. His photo was published in a local newspaper, showing him being questioned by an FBI agent.
Frank capitalized on writing bad checks and impersonating various professionals, from doctors to pilots. This ruse lasted until his capture in France in 1969, where he was sentenced to four months but served three. Extradited to Sweden, he was convicted of gross fraud by forgery, served two months, and was banned from Sweden for eight years. Deported back to the United States in June 1970, he continued his criminal activities, including forging Pan Am payroll checks across five states, which attracted the FBI's attention. Arrested in Georgia in November 1970 after cashing 10 fake checks, he escaped jail but was recaptured in New York City. Sentenced to ten years for forgery, plus two additional years for escaping jail, he was released on parole after serving two years in Virginia.
(Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
After his release, Frank struggled to maintain various jobs, often getting fired after employers discovered his criminal past. In 1974, he again posed as a pilot to get a job at Camp Manison, a summer camp in Texas, where he was arrested for stealing cameras from co-workers. Around this time, he falsified his resume to include work with the Los Angeles Police Department and Scotland Yard. Facing the consequences of his actions, he decided to reform his life, moving to Tulsa with his wife and three sons, where they stayed for 25 years.
Abagnale & Associates
Frank worked undercover for the FBI for over 30 years, providing insights on fraud. He also founded Abagnale & Associates, a company dedicated to fraud prevention education. He authored books like "The Art of the Steal" and "Stealing Your Life" on avoiding fraud, and in 2015, he became the AARP Fraud Watch Ambassador. By 2018, he started hosting the AARP podcast "The Perfect Scam."
Frank's media appearances included "The Tonight Show" and the British TV series "The Secret Cabaret" during the '90s. His life story inspired the book "Catch Me If You Can," which Steven Spielberg adapted into a movie in 2002, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Frank had a cameo in the film as a French police officer.
Personal Life
Frank and his wife, Kelly, have three sons. After their children left for college, Kelly suggested moving, leading them to Charleston, South Carolina, where they currently reside.
