In 2008, Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) is an ex-con on the book-tour circuit talking about his lessons learned in prison and how much the global economy has changed (or in some cases, hasn't). His estranged daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), is a liberal website editor who lives with her up-and-coming fiance, Wall Street trader Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf). After a rumor-driven financial crisis forces Jake's boss and mentor, Lou Zabel (Frank Langella), to sell his company at a devastating loss, Lou throws himself in front of a subway train, leaving Jake without a father figure and hungry for revenge. Jake seeks out Gordon for counsel, who "trades" information about who he thinks caused the firm's investment crisis -- and ultimately Lou's suicide -- for a chance to reunite with Winnie. Gordon tips off Jake that Bretton James (Josh Brolin), a powerful hedge-fund manager, is at the bottom of the Zabel fiasco, so Jake tries to orchestrate a father-daughter reunion. Jake ends up working for Bretton, whom he distrusts, and Winnie continues to alienate Gordon, until the subprime mortgage bubble bursts, causing all sorts of climactic changes.