Who Is Jeffrey Epstein? A Complete Overview

Early Life and Career

Jeffrey Edward Epstein (January 20, 1953 — August 10, 2019) was an American financier who was convicted of sex offenses and later charged with federal sex trafficking crimes.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Epstein grew up in a middle-class household in Coney Island. Despite not completing a college degree, he was hired in 1974 to teach mathematics at the Dalton School, an elite private school in Manhattan.

In 1976, Epstein joined the investment bank Bear Stearns, where he eventually became a limited partner specializing in tax strategy for wealthy clients. He left Bear Stearns in 1981 and founded his own financial management firm, J. Epstein & Co.

The precise nature and scale of Epstein's financial operations have remained subjects of investigation and speculation. He claimed to manage money exclusively for billionaire-level clients, but the full details of his business have never been publicly verified.

Criminal History

2005–2008: Initial Investigation and Plea Deal

In 2005, the Palm Beach, Florida police department opened an investigation into Epstein after receiving a report about sexual abuse of a minor at his Palm Beach estate. The investigation identified multiple alleged victims.

The case was referred to the FBI, which opened a federal investigation. In 2007, a controversial Non-Prosecution Agreement was reached between Epstein's defense team and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Florida, led by then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta.

Under this agreement, Epstein pleaded guilty to Florida state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. He was sentenced to 18 months in the Palm Beach County Stockade and was granted a controversial work release program that allowed him to spend significant time outside the facility.

2019: Federal Charges

On July 6, 2019, Epstein was arrested at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York charged him with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors.

The indictment alleged that Epstein had created a network to sexually exploit dozens of underage girls at his properties in New York City and Palm Beach between at least 2002 and 2005.

Death in Custody

On August 10, 2019, Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan. The New York City Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging.

Epstein's death occurred under circumstances that drew significant public scrutiny, including reports of staffing issues and surveillance failures at the MCC. Two guards who were assigned to monitor Epstein were later charged with falsifying records; they entered into deferred prosecution agreements.

Properties and Assets

Epstein owned multiple high-value properties, including:

A mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (one of the largest private residences in New York)
A waterfront estate in Palm Beach, Florida
Little St. James, a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Great St. James, a larger neighboring island in the USVI
A ranch in Stanley, New Mexico
An apartment in Paris, France

Legacy and Ongoing Proceedings

The Epstein case has led to multiple subsequent legal proceedings, including:

The criminal trial and conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell
Civil lawsuits by victims against the Epstein estate and various institutions
Congressional inquiries into the handling of the 2007 plea deal
Ongoing document unsealing from the Giuffre v. Maxwell case
The DOJ's release of additional investigative files in 2025

For the full chronology, see our Timeline. For document access, see Documents.