Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein died of apparent suicide in his Manhattan jail cell on August 10, 2019. He was 66 years old and was under investigation for sexually abusing dozens of underage girls between 1999 and 2007.
A criminal investigation was launched into his alleged abuse, but Epstein was never charged with any crime because most of the alleged victims were beyond the statute of limitations.
Known as the 'financier to the stars'
The 66-year-old, who was facing multiple federal sex trafficking charges, died in a jail cell at Manhattan Correctional Center on Saturday morning from an apparent suicide.
It is reported that he left behind a will which names a number of beneficiaries and there are hopes that it could shed light on some of his dealings during his lifetime.
One person likely to benefit from Jeffrey Epstein's death is Ghislaine Maxwell - known as his madam in court papers. Ms Maxwell, 59, has denied all wrongdoing and has never been charged with any offences.
Revealed in Paradise Papers
The latest legal battle may be over, but Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune may never fully be disclosed to authorities or creditors. That’s because billions of dollars in assets are likely held in offshore accounts.
The following is a list of potential heirs of Jeffrey Epstein, who will inherit his net worth when he dies. Most estimates put Mr. Epstein’s net worth at $2 billion or more. If true, that would make him one of America’s wealthiest residents, if not its single wealthiest resident (New York Times).
Though Mr. Epstein has properties all over Manhattan and homes in Palm Beach and Paris, he never married nor had children—at least not biological ones—which means his fortune will probably end up going to his closest living relatives. Since Mr.
Alleged sex offender
Jeffrey Epstein, a registered sex offender and billionaire financier, hanged himself in his New York City jail cell on Saturday morning. Sources say he was taken off suicide watch days before his death. He faced up to 45 years in prison for allegedly sexually abusing dozens of young girls over two decades.
Allegations against him were first revealed when Virginia Giuffre claimed she was groomed by billionaire attorney Alan Dershowitz, former President Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew while working as a teen at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida.
How was he able to get away with it?
How exactly he was able to fly under everyone’s radar for so long is an interesting question. You can chalk it up to any number of reasons, including his wealth, his business acumen and his social status.
But then again, that was also a huge part of why his crimes went unnoticed for so long — and why no one believed anyone who did come forward with allegations against him.
While it’s hard to say if there’s any real legal answer to that question, we can certainly take a look at how other criminals like Jeffrey Epstein get away with their crimes . . . and use those answers to predict how serial sexual abusers might be able to do the same in their attempts not only cover up what they’ve done but avoid repercussions.
How much is his fortune really worth?
Estimates of Jeffrey Epstein’s net worth have differed wildly in recent years, with some claiming he was worth as much as $1 billion. One Forbes source put his wealth at $5.7 billion, saying that it had been bolstered by his perch atop a multibillion-dollar empire built on finance,
real estate and infrastructures. On its face, that seems questionable. However, he was a billionaire by 2006 according to The Guardian (UK). In 2015, Bloomberg estimated his net worth at around $2 billion thanks to a hedge fund called Quantum Endowment Fund which has been valued at $16 billion.
What did he leave behind for his heirs (both potential and actual)?
One of Epstein’s homes is in Palm Beach, Fla., where he owns another mansion, but there are other properties in New York City, Paris and New Mexico. There’s also a private island off of St. Thomas that he purchased in 1998 and has been trying to sell since 2017.
The Daily Beast reported that it costs $72 million and includes six separate houses with a total of 22 bedrooms and 33 bathrooms; it includes a ground-level marina with five covered slips capable of accommodating mega-yachts up to 100 feet long (with larger vessels able to dock offshore). Reports estimate its current value at $77 million.
Where does this fortune come from, anyway?
It's simple, really. In 2007, he came under fire for allegedly sexually abusing dozens of underage girls, who were recruited and groomed for him by Ghislaine Maxwell—the daughter of newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell and an associate of Bill Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas.
Underage women alleged that they were forced to have sex with Prince Andrew and modeling mogul Jean-Luc Brunel as well. Some have also suggested a connection between Epstein and former President Trump—after all,
Trump did praise him in a 2002 New York Magazine profile written by former Jeffrey Epstein associate Sarah Kellen (who is mentioned in one suit). One woman claimed that she went to Mar-A-Lago with Trump after meeting him at Mar-A-Lago.
A look at some of his controversial donations
In recent years, he also donated to both Democratic and Republican politicians. In 2016, for example, he gave $10,000 to a fundraising committee for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton — a fact that emerged when hackers last year leaked information on Clinton campaign donors.
In 2008, he donated $10 million to create a physics department at Hebrew University in Israel. And in 2010, Epstein reportedly donated $5 million to endow the Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation Program for Neuroscience Research at Rockefeller University in New York City.
That university is also where media mogul and longtime Clinton pal Harvey Weinstein serves as co-chairman of its board of trustees. A university spokeswoman confirmed that Mr. and Mrs.
What will become of his vast property holdings in New York City, Paris, and the Caribbean?
Those properties are at once a testament to Mr. Epstein’s wealth and legacy, as well as a significant piece of his estate. While he owns multiple homes in New York City, his Parisian pied-à-terre and Caribbean retreats have become infamous for their lavish decorating (think statues of Alexander the Great, Roman baths and Picasso paintings).
It is unclear who will inherit these properties—Mr. Epstein had no known children or relatives before his death. He was previously married to Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of British publishing mogul Robert Maxwell. Although they divorced in 1996 on grounds of abandonment, Ms.
The financial empire upon which he built his fortune.
How much is Jeffrey Epstein worth? How much is it estimated that his companies will earn going forward, and how did he build his wealth to make him one of America’s most infamous billionaires.
Most famously known for being convicted of soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008, but also prosecuted for financial crimes in 2017 after allegations surfaced that he was running a sex-
trafficking ring catering to powerful politicians and celebrities. He pleaded not guilty and was awaiting trial at New York City’s Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he died on August 10th 2019.
What will happen to Epstein's vast collection of trophies?
Though Epstein was once known for his massive stockpile of adorable stuffed animals, it seems likely that his late girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, will be appointed as executor of his estate—and will thus inherit everything.
If you’re curious to know more about Ghislaine Maxwell and her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, click here. Of course, his business associates—particularly those closest to him—will have to be considered in any discussion of inheritance.
It’s hard to imagine a situation where they don’t get anything; let’s take a look at who those associates are. First up is Marcinkova —but what will happen to models like Marcinkova when they enter their twilight years?