In the late 1980s, despite blunt warnings from trusted advisors that Jeffrey Epstein “smelled like a rat” and couldn’t be trusted, billionaire retail titan Les Wexner handed the shadowy financier unlimited power of attorney—allowing him to borrow millions, sign checks, transfer properties, and control vast fortunes with virtually no oversight. What seemed like an exclusive, enigmatic partnership fueling Epstein’s opaque billions is now unraveling under exhaustive new inquiries, including a sweeping 2025 New York Times investigation and freshly released Justice Department files. These probes spotlight early deceptions, direct misappropriations of tens of millions (some say far more), questionable asset transfers like a Manhattan mansion for $0, and Epstein’s unchecked siphoning that quietly built his empire—all tracing straight back to Wexner’s extraordinary trust.
In the late 1980s, despite blunt warnings from trusted advisors that Jeffrey Epstein “smelled like a rat” and couldn’t be trusted, billionaire retail titan Les Wexner handed the shadowy financier unlimited power of attorney—allowing him to borrow millions, sign checks, transfer properties, and control vast fortunes with virtually no oversight. Wexner, the founder of L Brands and architect of brands like Victoria’s Secret, met Epstein around this time through financial circles in Ohio and New York. Advisors, including longtime money manager Harold Levin, urged caution after initial meetings, describing Epstein as untrustworthy. Yet Wexner ignored the red flags, elevating Epstein above Levin and granting him extraordinary authority by 1991.
What seemed like an exclusive, enigmatic partnership fueling Epstein’s opaque billions is now unraveling under exhaustive new inquiries, including a sweeping December 2025 New York Times investigation titled “Scams, Schemes, Ruthless Cons: The Untold Story of How Jeffrey Epstein Got Rich,” and freshly released Justice Department files from late 2025. These probes, drawing on interviews, archives, and documents, spotlight early deceptions and direct misappropriations tracing straight back to Wexner’s trust.
The Times investigation reveals how Epstein leveraged Wexner’s name and resources to build credibility. By falsely claiming affiliations and exaggerating connections, Epstein positioned himself as a manager for the ultra-wealthy. Wexner provided not just fees—estimated in the hundreds of millions over decades—but access to elite networks. In return, Epstein gained power of attorney, enabling him to handle transactions, investments, and even property deals on Wexner’s behalf.
Key revelations include questionable asset transfers. Wexner purchased a massive Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street in 1989 for $13.2 million. By the late 1990s, Epstein occupied it, and records show ownership transferred to Epstein-controlled entities—effectively for $0 in documented deeds around 2011, though he resided there earlier. Valued at over $77 million, this seven-story mansion became central to Epstein’s operations.
Financial misappropriations also emerged. In a 2019 letter, Wexner accused Epstein of stealing “vast sums,” later specifying over $46 million recovered in 2008 transfers to a Wexner charity—described as only a portion of diverted funds. The 2025 Times probe details how Epstein siphoned money through opaque entities, with no meaningful oversight despite advisors’ warnings.
Justice Department releases in December 2025, including thousands of pages and photos, further illuminate Epstein’s finances, though heavy redactions limit details on specific Wexner transactions. They underscore patterns of unchecked flows through offshore accounts, echoing allegations of misappropriation.
Epstein’s unchecked siphoning quietly built his empire: private jets, islands, and associations with power brokers—all seeded by Wexner’s fortune and trust. The partnership ended around 2007 amid Epstein’s Florida investigations, but questions linger. Why no lawsuit despite alleged theft? Why such latitude for a man advisors distrusted from the start?
As Epstein’s 2019 sex-trafficking charges exposed his abuses, the 2025 inquiries shift focus to origins. Wexner’s extraordinary empowerment enabled a college dropout’s ascent, insulating him for decades. The story warns of blind trust in charisma over caution—a billionaire’s misjudgment fueling a predator’s rise. Ongoing probes may reveal more, but evidence already traces Epstein’s billions to one man’s fateful decision.
Leave a Reply