Frank Abagnale Jr., the subject of the book "Catch Me If You Can," was born on April 27, 1948, in New Rochelle, New York. As a teenager, he developed a knack for deception and fraud, eventually posing as an airline pilot, a doctor, a sociology professor, and a lawyer. By the age of 21, he had cashed about $2.5 million in fraudulent checks across the U.S. and 26 different countries. He was eventually captured in France in 1969, serving six months in prison.
After his release, Abagnale worked with the FBI to assist in cases and teach agents his unique skills. In 1980, he published his book, "Catch Me If You Can," which was later adapted into a film by Steven Spielberg. The film, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, deviated from the real-life events and was not entirely accurate. Despite this, it was nominated for an Oscar and is considered one of Spielberg's most underrated films.
Abagnale later established a secure document consulting company, Abagnale and Associates, where he continues to use his expertise to prevent fraud. He met his wife while on an undercover assignment for the FBI, and they eventually had three sons. The proudest moment of his life, he has said, was when his oldest son finished law school and became an FBI agent.
Despite the dramatization in the book and film, the verified claims show that Abagnale was one of the greatest known criminal minds of all time.
1. The text is about Frank Abagnale Jr., a legendary con artist who was a millionaire twice over by the age of 21.
2. His book "Catch Me If You Can" was bought by Steven Spielberg in 1980 and released as an Oscar-nominated film in 2002, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Abagnale and Tom Hanks as the FBI agent.
3. Abagnale was born on April 27, 1948, and grew up in New Rochelle, New York.
4. He began developing the knowledge and skills that would later make him a nearly unstoppable white-collar criminal by the age of 15.
5. By the age of 21, Abagnale had posed as an airline pilot, a doctor, a sociology professor, and a lawyer, largely through guile and forged credentials.
6. He cashed about 2.5 million dollars in fraudulent checks across every U.S state and 26 different countries.
7. Abagnale was captured in France in 1969 at the age of 21 and served time for six months.
8. After his release, he established a secure document consulting company, Abagnale and Associates, and continues to use his expertise in preventing fraud.
9. Abagnale met his wife while on an undercover assignment for the FBI.
10. He has three sons, one of whom went on to become an FBI agent.
11. Abagnale has stated that his proudest moment was when his oldest son graduated from law school and became an FBI agent.
12. He has revealed that the book based on his life was largely over-dramatized and exaggerated, stating that it was just a story and not a biography.