There are some good accounts on Instagram. Some great ones, even. But there are very few perfect accounts, which is why MrWallStreet83 caught my eye.
If you, like me, are a fan of unabashed chutzpah on the Internet, MrWallStreet83 — the Instagram alias of a 29-year-old Canadian real-estate broker named Martin Lavoie — is a strong contender for the best account on Instagram. Nearly every day, Lavoie (bio: “In the business of not giving a fuck what you think and business is really good”) posts photos of luxury cars, hotel penthouses, Hermès ties, and other one-percenter achievements, all hashtagged with labels like #ARMANI, #wealth, and #moneyneversleeps. There is no irony, no hint of self-effacement. He’s simply bathing in money, and he wants you to see it. Watching his stream is like peering deeply into Patrick Bateman’s psyche. It’s Rich Kids of Instagram, concentrated in one Canadian. And while his Instagram account only has 478 followers, at present count, it deserves many, many more.
First things first: Yes, Mr. Wall Street is a real person.
I spoke to Lavoie last week, who claimed that many — though not all — of the ridiculous photos he posts reflect his real life. (Some of the luxury cars and apartments pictured on his stream belong to his clients and friends, he said.) Lavoie works for a commercial real-estate firm in Montreal, where he described his job as “managing my family holdings” and his hobby as “trading on the stock market.” He claims to have gotten his MBA at Stanford (though a quick search turned up no records of his attendance) and says that although he’s never worked on Wall Street, he chose his Instagram handle in part because he may want to work there someday. And yes, ladies, he’s single.
Lavoie said he was “not trying to be cocky” by Instagramming photos of Philippe Patek watches, Lamborghinis, and million-dollar apartments, nor was he trying to imitate “Lavish,” another Instagram user known for posting absurd images of excessive luxury. He said he was simply trying to give people a look at his lifestyle and, perhaps, an example to follow.
“I’m just trying to show people the good things in life,” he said. “If I go somewhere, I’m staying in a nice hotel. I’m not cheap with the cars I’m driving, the clothes I’m wearing. Perhaps I don’t live the Trump life, but I’m happy with what I have in my life so far.”
And why shouldn’t he be? After all, this is what the good life looks like:
Peering at expensive watches.
More watches and fancy business cards.
Penthouses. Lots of penthouses.
A Canadian cash-fan.
Bathtubs full of Champagne.
Spending $135,000 on a night out. (Lavoie said this receipt belonged to a friend of his.)
Elevator selfies. So many elevator selfies.
Lavoie doesn’t just post photos of himself, though. He inspires his followers to achieve their own greatness, by telling them to focus on the important things:
In the comments section of his Instagram feed, he keeps a healthy distance between himself and his followers, who all want a piece of him.
Yes, Mr. Wall Street is truly an inspiration.
