Sal Strazzullo, a Brooklyn lawyer, was the legal king of New York nightlife, with a client list that extended to nightclub proprietors, disc jockeys, exotic dancers and doormen.

But when he was charged with stealing more than $1 million from clients last December, the man known for sleek double-breasted suits and luxury watches needed a lawyer of his own: a court-appointed attorney for the indigent.

The indictment, which stunned friends and colleagues, only hinted at the extent of Mr. Strazzullo’s troubles. Four months later, he was hit with a second set of charges and a score of lawsuits, legal filings that accused him of bilking his clients of millions of dollars.

In August, it all came to an end.

Mr. Strazzullo, 52, was found dead in a black Fiat convertible behind his parents’ home in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, just days before he was due back in court. The death appeared to be a suicide, a law enforcement official said.

Mr. Strazzullo’s rise was enabled by a city awash with music, models, nightclubs and the shimmering wealth that has beckoned strivers for centuries. But in New York, fame and success are fickle companions: The city also provided all the conditions necessary for his fall.