Abuse Of Power? 'Wolf Of The World Cup' Leonardo DiCaprio Calls In White House Favor To Make Soccer Opener
June 19 2014, Published 7:41 p.m. ET
He may be the Wolf of Wall Street but Leonardo DiCaprio almost didn’t make it to Brazil in time for the opening of the World Cup, if not for some help from the White House.
DiCaprio, 39, had plans to attend the sporting match with friends including best buds Lukas Haas, Vincent Laresca, Jonah Johnson and Milano Jonah Sanchez — but the group's passports were delayed from the Brazilian Consulate in New York City, and at one point it looked like the party wouldn’t have them back in time to fly on a private plane to Sao Paulo on June 10th.
“On Monday afternoon June 9th they started freaking out because their passports were still at the Consulate,” a source said.
“They called several people in high places in order to get their passports back.”
And by "high places" we mean the White House.
Out of pure desperation, DiCaprio’s camp called a top aide at the White House who in turn called Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s office, who then organized for the consulate in New York to release the passports.
“When they finally received word their passports with their Visa’s approved to enter Brazil could be collected, the consulate was closed so someone had to open it up after hours for them,” the source added.
DiCaprio arrived in Brazil in time to see the host nation take on Croatia at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, but quickly turned his attention to his favorite hobby and the real reason he was in South America — partying.