The so-called billionaire has been accused for years of molesting girls in an elite sex trading gang.
Jeffrey Epstein is a wealthy fund manager who has long been accused of luring young women and underage girls into his various homes in order to sexually abuse them. Only in the past year has his misconduct come under intense national media attention, triggered by a blockbuster report in the Miami Herald in 2018 that revealed that reporters found about 80 women who said Epstein abused them between 2001 and 2006.
Epstein reportedly has a well-functioning organizational system to recruit young girls, with some of accusing his close associate, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, of helping him. When the girls and women began talking to law enforcement, Epstein's team of heavyweight lawyers dug up the stains on them to question their reputations. However, as the Me Too movement helped strip Epstein of much of his privileges, we are slowly learning more fully about the atrocious crimes he may have committed.
Ghislaine Maxwell
Details of Epstein's life and wealth remain unclear. We know he obtained a secret, highly controversial plea deal in 2008, thanks to former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, who was Secretary of Labor under President Donald Trump. We know that Epstein may not be a billionaire, despite widespread reports that he is. We know that his wealthy friends complimented him in glossy magazine profiles. But there are many other questions that make us rush to find answers.
As more information comes to light, here's a non-exhaustive timeline of Epstein's life, career, and misconduct.
Jeffrey Epstein
1953: Born in New York City
According to a 2003 Vanity Fair profile, Epstein and his younger brother Mark were raised by middle-class parents in Brooklyn. His father worked in the city's parks department.
Early 70s: University Samurai Studies
Epstein is known to dabble in college education but never earn a degree. A spokeswoman confirmed to The Huffington Post that from 1969 to 1971, Epstein attended the Cooper Union School of Engineering. A spokesperson for New York University told The Huffington Post that Epstein then took classes there as a visiting student from September 1971 to June 1974, but he did not attend a specific degree program. (New York magazine says he attended the Courant School of Mathematics.) ）
1973: Hired to teach math and physics at the private Dalton School in Manhattan
The Huffington Post confirmed that Epstein got a job at the elite school during Donald Barr's tenure as principal. Donald is the father of current Attorney General William Barr, who has refused to recuse himself in Epstein's case. According to a 2002 New York magazine introduction to Epstein, he was "a bit like Robin Williams' image in 'The Dead Poets Society,' wowing his high school class with passionate mathematical improvisation." But former Dalton teachers, students and parents contacted by Rebecca Klein of The Huffington Post have mixed memories of the young teacher, with some not remembering him at all. Some noticed red flags in his behavior at the time, while others simply recalled the eye-catching fur coat he liked to wear.
Several emails sent to Dalton schools seeking comment went unanswered.
1976: Joined Bear Stearns
According to New York and Vanity Fair, Epstein left Dalton because the father of a student urged him to pursue a career on Wall Street. He then spent several years as a trader at the now-defunct investment bank, which described his promotion as "rapid," according to New York reports.
1982: Started his own company
From New York: J. Epstein & Co. — apparently still operating today — provides $1 billion or more in assets to individuals and families.
He will have full control over a billion dollars, charge a fixed fee, and be empowered to do whatever he deems necessary to advance the client's financial career.
Les Wexner, founder of lingerie manufacturer L Brands, is Epstein's only confirmed customer. Vanity Fair reported in 2003 that the two were very close.
Is the "lewd rich" Epstein and the underwear demigod a match made in heaven or a hell on earth
1990: Purchase of a secluded compound in Palm Beach, Florida
The mansion where Epstein allegedly sexually assaulted many underage girls for money was partially obscured by tall hedges and stretched up to a small bay.
1992: Mar-a-Lago party with Donald Trump and 28 women
The epic brotherhood of "Kinky Rich" Epstein and Trump
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend the Donald Trump Party in Mar-a-Lago
Yes, according to the New York Times on July 9, only Trump, Epstein and 28 young women flew in to provide "entertainment" in the form of a private beauty pageant. Party planner George Houraney said he didn't believe the event would cater only to the two and was concerned that Epstein would be there.
"I said, 'Listen, Donald, I really know Jeff, I can't let him pursue young girls,'" Hulani told The New York Times. "He said, 'Look, I put my name on it. I will not write my name on it, otherwise there will be a scandal. Trump claimed he and Epstein later quarreled.
1996: Relocation of the company to the U.S. Virgin Islands
Epstein also renamed his company Financial Trust Co. The relocation was reportedly for tax purposes. In 2002, New York reported that the company consisted of 150 "purely administrative" employees. There is little publicly available information about the operation — including a list of customers.
1996: Relocation of the company to the U.S. Virgin Islands
Epstein also renamed his company Financial Trust Co. The relocation was reportedly for tax purposes. In 2002, New York reported that the company consisted of 150 "purely administrative" employees. There is little publicly available information about the operation — including a list of customers.
Late 1990s: Moving into a Manhattan mansion
How Epstein acquired his mansion at 9 E. 71st St., considered the largest mansion in Manhattan, remains a mystery. The New York Times reported that Epstein announced in a 1996 interview that it was his property. According to Bloomberg, citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter, Wexner sold the house to an Epstein affiliate in 1998. Public records show that the transfer of ownership did not take place until 2011 and at no cost.
Several of Epstein's accusers said the mansion was where he sexually assaulted them. It is said that it is strange inside.
A mansion at 9 E. 71st St
1998: Purchase of Little St. James Island, U.S. Virgin Islands
In a shocking report, The Associated Press describes how when sexual harassment allegations against Epstein first became public, people living around Epstein's extremely private oasis began calling it "pedophile island." Epstein hired hundreds of workers to build a stone edifice on the island, and there was a bizarre temple-like building nearby. But most of Epstein's former employees declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press on the grounds that they signed long-standing nondisclosure agreements.
Little St. James was his main residence. Epstein allegedly ran a sex trafficking ring here (and his other properties) with Maxwell, who allegedly recruited the young girls, some of them teenagers.
"Pedophilic Island"
Around 1999: A minor Mar-a-Lago worker is allegedly forced to have sex with Prince Andrew and lawyer Alan Dershowitz
In 2015, Virginia Roberts said in an affidavit that Maxwell first approached her while she was working at Mar-a-Lago and offered to provide her with massage training. She was then taken to Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, where she said Epstein abused her in 1999, when she was 15. She said the abuse continued for several years, during which she said she was passed on to other celebrities.
(Roberts later sued Maxwell for defamation and settled out of court.) ）
Virginia Roberts
"Rich and Adulterous" Epstein: Roberts' abuse story as one of the victims
2002: Alleged rape of a New York City high school student in a New York City mansion
In a July 2019 interview with NBC's "Today," Jennifer Araoz said she was approached by a young woman outside high school at age 14 in 2001 and first taken to Epstein's huge townhouse. There, he would abuse her and pay her the following year, which eventually led to what she said was rape.
Jennifer Araoz
In 2019, Jennifer Araoz accused Epstein of raping her in his New York mansion when she was 15 years old and had dreams of becoming an actress. She claims she was given $300 to give Epstein a massage in her underwear. "He robbed me of my dream," she said. "He deprived me of the opportunity to pursue a career I had always loved. "He stole my chance to really feel loved because for years I was so afraid to trust anyone that I had such severe anxiety. "I don't want to leave my house, let alone my bed."
Also 2002: Called "amazing" by Donald Trump and traveled with Bill Clinton
"I've known Jeff for 15 years. Fantastic," Trump said in an interview with Epstein in New York. "It's fun to be with him. It is said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are young. ”
According to a Clinton statement, former President Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's private jet to Europe, Asia and Africa four times in 2002 and 2003.
One of Epstein's victims said she had seen Clinton on the island, but he denied ever being there.
The former president was friendly to Epstein, who let him fly in a private jet
The magnates in the "Little Black Book" of Epstein's sex scandal, from Trump to Clinton
2005: A 14-year-old girl and her parents report the crime to the police
The teenage said in March 2005 that she was taken to Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach by a companion who said he paid her to give him a massage. A subsequent police investigation revealed that Mr. Epstein had been in contact with multiple girls whose staff said were frequent visits.
May 2006: Charged with multiple counts of unlawful sexual activity with minors
Then-state attorney Barry Krischer took the case to a grand jury. According to the Miami Herald, the grand jury heard from two of the dozen law enforcement officers gathered as witnesses and filed an indictment on one count of prostitution.
July 2006: Submitted to the FBI for investigation
Unhappy with the state's handling of Epstein's case, Palm Beach police pressured the FBI to launch its own investigation.
2007: A plea agreement is reached with Acosta, then a U.S. attorney in Miami
As the U.S. Attorney's Office prepared a 53-page indictment in June, Epstein's lawyers began talking about possible plea deals for their clients, according to the Miami Herald. In October, Acosta and an Epstein attorney reached a preliminary agreement at the West Palm Beach Marriott conference that Epstein would plead guilty to two felony charges of prostitution. Shockingly, victims will also not be notified of the agreement, and all grand jury summonses will be voided, according to the newspaper.
June 2008: Appeared in court to plead guilty to two lesser charges and was given a relaxed sentence of 18 months in prison
Emails obtained by the Miami Herald show that Mr. Acosta repeatedly bowed to the businessman's demands during months of back-and-forth negotiations between Mr. Epstein's lawyers and Mr. Acosta's office. In the end, Acosta signed a "non-prosecution agreement that was negotiated, signed and stamped so that no one would know the full scope of Epstein's crimes," the Herald said.
Epstein appeared in court in Palm Beach County on June 30, 2008, when none of his accusers were present. He was required to register as a sex offender and report to prison.
The Miami Herald also noted that Epstein began the out-of-court settlement of "at least a dozen" of other lawsuits around this time.
July 2008: Plaintiffs learn of secret plea agreements
The victimized women immediately began a very long journey of defending their rights in court.
July 2009: Released from prison five months early
Epstein was allowed to serve 18 months in a private wing of the Palm Beach County Yard, where he hired his own security guards and was allowed to work up to 12 hours a day, six days a week, the Herald reported.
2011: Asked to register as a sex offender in New York City
It was later revealed that Epstein had not registered with the NYPD once in eight years since he was told to check every 90 days to verify his address.
2018: The Miami Herald publishes revelations of Epstein's long history of alleged sexual abuse
The in-depth series, published in November 2018, sparked a new wave of public outrage against the privileged financier at a time when sexual misconduct and judicial inequality were both topics of intense public scrutiny.
July 2019: Underage girl arrested and prosecuted for sex trafficking
On July 6, 2019, Epstein's accuser won a long-sought victory when he was charged with child sex trafficking and conspiracy to trade sex. Prosecutors charged in a grand jury indictment that he paid dozens of girls as young as 14 from 2002 to 2005 to have sex with him at his New York and Florida properties.
Epstein pleaded not guilty, and if convicted, he could face up to 45 years in prison.
On July 11, more than a dozen women — who were not previously known to law enforcement, according to their lawyers, came forward to file sexual abuse charges against Epstein, according to the Herald.
Authorities have encouraged others who have not yet come forward to contact the FBI.
August 2019
It was ruled that Epstein had committed suicide on August 10, but an independent autoexaminer hired by Epstein's family disputed that conclusion.
Photographs found in prison cells that apparently contained notes written by Epstein.
"(EDITED) put me in a locked shower for 1 hour. Noel sent me burnt food. Huge bugs crawled over my hand. Nothing fun!! The note reads.
Jeffrey Epstein's accuser
Anouska De Georgiou says she was a child when she met the well-connected pedophile in London in the 1990s.
Anouska De Georgiou recounts how she was plastic surgery and abused by perverted financier Jeffrey Epstein as a child
Epstein groomed the young socialite and then flew her around the world and molested her in his mansion
After luring her into his clutches, he sent the underage socialite flying around the world — she claimed he had abused her and dozens of others.
She said: "When Jeffrey saw me, he would shake because he was worried that she would rush towards me, which was very disturbing. ”
It also features the grim testimony of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claimed she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, a friend of Epstein's.
Ms De Georgiou grew up in a wealthy family and attended school with Kate Middleton at the prestigious Marlborough College.
But speaking about how billionaire Epstein made her bend to his twisted will, she told Dateline: "When I was raped, it was too late. ”
She added that the financier's cronies and supporters would turn a blind eye to his shameless abuse of vulnerable sick young girls.
Ms. De Georgiou said: "There is a microcosm of this acceptance everywhere and yes, it's normal for people to behave like this. ”
Caught in a nightmare
She claims that Epstein sexually assaulted her at his £70 million New York mansion and in his Caribbean mansion, which locals dubbed "Carnival Island."
But in explaining how she couldn't get out of her nightmare, Ms. de Georgio recalled Epstein's employees and friends who seemed indifferent.
She added: "If you're a young person walking into a mansion or someone's island and everyone in the room acting as if it's okay and you're the only one who thinks it's weird, it's hard to say something. “
Ms De Georgiou went on to star alongside Jude Law and later dated Beach Rescue star David Hasselhoff when she was a successful model.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, 36, claims she has been a sex slave to Jeffrey Epstein since she was 17. She claimed she was "loaned" by Epstein to have sex with Prince Andrew – a claim that the royal family vehemently denied and dismissed by a US court.
"He won't be spending his day in court, but with the support of these brave and beautiful women in this court today, the reckoning of accountability has begun," she said. "The reckoning cannot end – it must continue. "He didn't act alone, and we victims know that." On Prince Andrew: "He knows what he's done and he can prove it. "He knows exactly what he's done – I hope he'll be honest about that."
British actress Anouska De Georgiou
Anouska De Georgiou, 42, is a British actress who starred with Jude Law in the 2004 film Alfie.
She is the daughter of former debut Barbara and millionaire financier Anthony. After being educated at Marlborough College, De Georgiou turned down the opportunity to study law at Oxford and instead focused on modeling. She first rose to fame as a model, starring in commercials for Guy Laroche and Pussy Glamore's lingerie before working in film.
The actress also dated David Hasselhoff. She claims to have been abused by Epstein as a teenager after meeting Epstein when she was "young and idealistic."
"I think a very important point to convey is the irreparable loss of innocence, trust and joy," she said. "This abuse, which lasted for several years, devalued me immeasurably, affecting my ability to build and maintain healthy relationships at work and in my personal life. "He couldn't begin to understand what he took from us."
Jennifer · Jennifer Araoz
Jennifer Araoz accused Epstein of raping her in his New York mansion when she was an aspiring actress at the age of 15. She claims she was given $300 to give Epstein a massage in her underwear. "He robbed me of my dream," she said. "He deprived me of the opportunity to pursue a career I had always loved. "He stole my chance to really feel loved because for years I was so afraid to trust anyone that I had such severe anxiety. "I don't want to leave my house, let alone my bed."
Sarah Ransome, a South African
Sarah Ransome is one of the young girls sent to Epstein's private "pedophile island." She has previously said she tried to swim away from the Caribbean island after her passport was apparently stolen by so-called "Mrs." Ghislaine Maxwell. "I want to acknowledge and thank the Southern District Attorney for doing justice on behalf of the victims," she said. "Please, please finish what you started. "We, the victim, are still here, ready to tell the truth, and we all know he is not acting alone. "We are survivors and the quest for justice should not wane.
Teala Davies
Teala Davies said she was only 17 years old when she was abused by Epstein – she considered Epstein to be the most powerful person in the world. She said: "I intend to start this statement by saying that I am a victim of Jeffrey Epstein. "But that's not the case. I am still a victim of Jeffrey Epstein. "I'm still a victim for fear of not being heard, and I haven't told my story for years... "I'm still a victim because I'm worried about my daughter and everyone's daughter... "I am still a victim because 17-year-old Tila was manipulated into thinking she had found someone who cared about her, someone who wanted to help her."
Courtney Wild
Courtney Wild claims she was sexually abused by Epstein in Palm Beach, Florida, when she was 14. She previously revealed that she was still a schoolgirl wearing braces when Epstein allegedly forced her to have sex. She said: "Jeffrey Epstein robbed myself and all the other victims of our time in court, confronting him one by one, and for that he was a coward. ”
Chauntae Davies
Chauntae Davies claims she was sexually assaulted by Epstein after she was trained to massage Epstein. She worked as a flight attendant on Epstein's private jet, the Lolita Express. "I started massaging, trying not to let him smell my fear and obvious discomfort, but before I could react, he grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards the bed," she said. "I tried to break free, but he unfastened my shorts and pulled my body onto his already naked body faster than I thought. "I was looking for the right word, but all I could say was, 'No, please stop,' but that seemed to get him even more excited."
Michelle Licata Maria and Anne Farmer, sisters
Michelle Licata was one of Epstein's plaintiffs in a 2008 criminal case in Florida. She claims she was lured to Epstein's Palm Beach resort at age 16 and told her "you're so beautiful and sexy." "What happened to me happened many years ago when I was in high school, but it still affects my life," she said. "I was told at the time that Jeffrey Epstein would be held accountable, but he didn't. "In fact, the government made a secret agreement and didn't tell me. "This time I'm important, and the other victims are important, that's important."
Maria and Anne Farmer, sisters, Maria and Annie Farmer, sisters, Marijack Shatuni
Anne Farmer (pictured) was just 16 when her 25-year-old sister, Maria, introduced Epstein. Both sisters claimed that they were sexually assaulted by Epstein and accused of being "Mrs." Gisleine Maxwell. Anne said on behalf of her sister Maria: "Jeffrey Epstein and Gislein Maxwell not only attacked her, but as many brave women we hear today say, they stole her dreams and livelihood. "Many years ago, she risked security to report them in 1996 – but to no avail – and what broke her and my heart was all this disruption that has happened since then."
Marijke Chartouni
"[I came forward] to give a voice to victims who may not be able to tell their stories, or at least not yet," she said. ”
Theresa S. Theresa J. Helm
"So I'm here today because it's time to bring light to darkness, and it's time to replace darkness with light."