The film takes place in 2008, in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The young trader, Jake Moore (played by Shia LaBeouf), works for a successful investment firm, which is owned by his mentor, Louis Zabel (played by Frank Langella). When Zabel's firm suffers a devastating loss, he commits suicide, and Jake is determined to find out who is responsible for the downfall of his mentor.
In his search for answers, Jake meets Gordon Gekko (played again by Michael Douglas), who has just been released from prison after serving time for insider trading. Gekko, who was once Jake's mentor, offers to help him in exchange for a chance to reconcile with his estranged daughter, Winnie (played by Carey Mulligan).
As Jake and Gekko team up to investigate the financial industry and uncover the truth about Zabel's death, they must navigate a complex web of greed, ambition, and corruption. Along the way, they encounter various characters, including Bretton James (played by Josh Brolin), a ruthless investment banker who is suspected of causing Zabel's downfall.
As the financial crisis deepens, Jake and Gekko must race against time to prevent another economic meltdown and to find redemption for themselves and the industry they have come to define. In the end, they both learn valuable lessons about the true meaning of success and the price of ambition.