Epstein Properties: Zorro Ranch, Manhattan Townhouse, Palm Beach & Paris
A comprehensive guide to all of Jeffrey Epstein's known properties — the Manhattan townhouse, Palm Beach estate, Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, and Paris apartment. Purchase details, role in investigations, evidence found, and current status, all cited to court records.
Overview of Epstein's Real Estate Portfolio
Jeffrey Epstein maintained a network of properties spanning multiple states and countries. According to estate filings, court records, and property records, his real estate holdings were collectively valued at hundreds of millions of dollars at the time of his death in August 2019. Each property played a distinct role in the investigation, and evidence was recovered from multiple locations.
For Epstein's island properties, see our dedicated pages on Little St. James and Epstein Island. For the financial context behind these acquisitions, see the Epstein Financial Network hub.
9 East 71st Street, Manhattan
Acquisition and History
The Manhattan townhouse is one of the largest private residences in New York City. According to the Wall Street Journal, Les Wexner purchased the seven-story townhouse for approximately $13.2 million in 1989. It was subsequently transferred to Epstein under circumstances that remain a subject of inquiry. The 2026 Wexner deposition provided additional details about the financial relationship between Wexner and Epstein — see our Wexner deposition analysis for more.
At the time of Epstein's death, the property was valued at approximately $56 million, according to estate filings reported by the New York Times.
Role in the Investigation
The Manhattan townhouse was named in the federal indictment (Case No. 19-cr-00490, SDNY) as one of the locations where Epstein allegedly committed sex trafficking offenses. According to the indictment, Epstein created a network to bring victims to his Manhattan residence between at least 2002 and 2005.
When the FBI executed a search warrant at the property in July 2019 following Epstein's arrest, agents made several significant discoveries, according to the federal prosecutors' bail memorandum:
- A locked safe containing a large quantity of cash and dozens of loose diamonds
- An expired foreign passport with Epstein's photograph but a different name and a Saudi Arabian address
- Compact discs in a locked safe with handwritten labels including names of individuals
These findings were cited by prosecutors in arguing against bail, according to the court transcript. The safe contents raised questions about the full extent of Epstein's activities and possible flight risk.
Current Status
The Manhattan townhouse was sold for approximately $51 million in March 2021, according to the Associated Press. The proceeds were directed toward estate obligations including the Epstein Victims' Compensation Fund.
El Brillo Way, Palm Beach, Florida
Where the Investigation Began
The Palm Beach estate holds particular significance because it was the starting point for the entire Epstein investigation. In March 2005, a parent contacted the Palm Beach Police Department to report that her 14-year-old daughter had been taken to Epstein's home, according to the Palm Beach Police Department report documented in the Miami Herald's "Perversion of Justice" investigation.
The Palm Beach police investigation, led by Detective Joseph Recarey, identified dozens of potential victims who described a similar pattern of being recruited and brought to the El Brillo Way estate, according to the police report and subsequent court filings. For the full investigation timeline, see our chronological breakdown.
The Property
The waterfront estate is located on El Brillo Way in Palm Beach, Florida. According to property records and reporting by the Associated Press, it was a substantial waterfront property in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Palm Beach.
Evidence and Investigation
According to the Palm Beach police investigation and the subsequent FBI involvement, the property was where the alleged pattern of abuse first came to law enforcement attention. Victim testimony described being brought to the residence for what were initially presented as massage appointments, according to court filings and the Miami Herald's reporting.
The Palm Beach investigation eventually led to the FBI's involvement and the controversial 2007 Non-Prosecution Agreement. For details on how that agreement was negotiated, see our NPA hub page.
Current Status
The Palm Beach estate sold for approximately $25.8 million in 2021, according to Reuters. As with the Manhattan property, proceeds went toward estate obligations.
Zorro Ranch, New Mexico
The Property
Zorro Ranch is an approximately 8,000-acre property located near Stanley, New Mexico, south of Santa Fe. Epstein purchased the ranch in the 1990s, according to property records cited by the Associated Press. The expansive property includes a main residence, guest facilities, an airstrip, and ranch infrastructure.
New Mexico Attorney General Investigation
In September 2019, following Epstein's death, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that his office was investigating allegations of criminal activity at Zorro Ranch, according to the AG's office. The investigation focused on whether victims had been brought to the New Mexico property.
According to reporting by the Associated Press, victim testimony and other evidence suggested that the pattern of abuse was not limited to Epstein's East Coast properties. The New Mexico investigation examined whether state laws had been violated at the ranch.
Significance in the Broader Case
Zorro Ranch expanded the geographic scope of the Epstein investigation beyond New York, Florida, and the Virgin Islands. According to court filings and victim testimony cited in media reporting, the ranch's remote location was allegedly used similarly to the island — its isolation making it difficult for victims to leave or seek help.
The property also raised questions about Epstein's connections in New Mexico. According to the New York Times, Epstein had donated to local institutions and maintained relationships with prominent figures in the state.
Current Status
Zorro Ranch was listed for sale as part of estate proceedings. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the property has been part of the broader effort to liquidate Epstein's assets to fund victim compensation and settle outstanding obligations.
Avenue Foch, Paris
The Property
Epstein maintained an apartment on Avenue Foch, one of the most prestigious addresses in Paris, according to reporting by the New York Times and French media. The property was connected to Epstein's European activities and his relationship with Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent.
Connection to French Investigation
French prosecutors opened an investigation into Epstein-related allegations in August 2019, following his arrest in New York, according to Reuters. The Paris apartment was relevant to this investigation. Jean-Luc Brunel, who had close ties to Epstein and was connected to the Paris property, was arrested by French police in December 2020 on charges of rape of minors and sexual harassment, according to the Associated Press.
Brunel was found dead in his prison cell in February 2022, in a death ruled as suicide by French authorities, according to Reuters. For the full picture of international investigations, see our international investigations hub.
Significance
The Paris property represented the international dimension of Epstein's network. According to court filings and media reporting, Epstein's operations extended beyond the United States, and the Avenue Foch apartment was part of a broader network of properties used across multiple countries.
Properties as Evidence
Across all properties, a consistent pattern emerged in the investigation. According to federal court filings and the USVI AG complaint:
- Multiple properties were named in the federal indictment as locations where offenses occurred
- Evidence was recovered from searches of the Manhattan townhouse, per the prosecutors' bail memorandum
- Victim testimony referenced abuse occurring at multiple properties, according to court records
- The geographic spread of properties across jurisdictions complicated investigation and prosecution
For the financial dimensions of Epstein's property empire, see the financial network hub and our detailed financial explainer.
Primary Sources
- Federal indictment, U.S. v. Epstein, SDNY — justice.gov
- FBI search warrant records — justice.gov
- New York Times, fortune and property reporting — nytimes.com
- New Mexico AG investigation — nmag.gov
- Associated Press, properties reporting — apnews.com
- Palm Beach Police Department report — pbcgov.org
- Wall Street Journal, Wexner mansion transfer — wsj.com
- Reuters, estate disposition — reuters.com
For Epstein's island properties, see Little St. James and the Epstein Island hub. For the legal cases connected to these properties, see Epstein Legal Proceedings. Browse all case documents in our document library or explore the full timeline.
Sources
- [1]Federal indictment, U.S. v. Epstein, Case No. 19-cr-00490, SDNY, July 2019 https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1180481... (accessed 2026-02-20)
- [2]FBI search warrant and execution records for 9 East 71st Street, Manhattan https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny (accessed 2026-02-20)
- [3]New York Times, 'The Mystery of Epstein's Fortune,' July 2019 https://www.nytimes.com/ (accessed 2026-02-20)
- [4]New Mexico Attorney General investigation of Zorro Ranch, September 2019 https://www.nmag.gov/ (accessed 2026-02-20)
- [5]Associated Press, Epstein properties and estate reporting https://apnews.com/ (accessed 2026-02-20)
- [6]Palm Beach Police Department investigation report, 2005-2006 https://www.pbcgov.org/ (accessed 2026-02-20)
- [7]Wall Street Journal, 'Les Wexner Transferred $66 Million Manhattan Mansion to Epstein,' August 2019 https://www.wsj.com/ (accessed 2026-02-20)
- [8]Reuters, Epstein estate sale and property disposition https://www.reuters.com/ (accessed 2026-02-20)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many properties did Jeffrey Epstein own?
- Epstein owned at least six major properties: a Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street, a Palm Beach estate on El Brillo Way, Zorro Ranch in New Mexico (approximately 8,000 acres), a Paris apartment on Avenue Foch, and two private islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Little St. James and Great St. James). These are documented through property records, court filings, and estate proceedings.
- What was found inside Epstein's Manhattan townhouse?
- When the FBI executed a search warrant at 9 East 71st Street in July 2019, agents discovered a locked safe containing cash, diamonds, an expired foreign passport with Epstein's photograph but a different name, and compact discs with handwritten labels including names, according to the federal court filing by prosecutors at the bail hearing.
- What is Zorro Ranch and why is it significant?
- Zorro Ranch is an approximately 8,000-acre property near Stanley, New Mexico, that Epstein purchased in the 1990s. The New Mexico Attorney General opened an investigation into activities at the ranch in September 2019. According to reporting by the Associated Press, victims alleged that abuse also occurred at this property.
- How did Epstein acquire the Manhattan townhouse?
- The townhouse at 9 East 71st Street was originally purchased by Les Wexner for approximately $13.2 million in 1989 and later transferred to Epstein. According to the Wall Street Journal, the circumstances of the transfer raised questions about the financial arrangement between Wexner and Epstein. The property was valued at approximately $56 million at the time of Epstein's death.
- What happened to Epstein's properties after his death?
- Following Epstein's death in August 2019, his properties entered estate proceedings. The Manhattan townhouse sold for approximately $51 million in March 2021, and the Palm Beach estate sold for approximately $25.8 million, according to the Associated Press and Reuters. Proceeds were directed toward the Epstein Victims' Compensation Fund and estate obligations.
- Where did the original Epstein investigation begin?
- The investigation that eventually led to federal charges began at Epstein's Palm Beach estate on El Brillo Way. In 2005, a parent reported to the Palm Beach Police Department that her daughter had been taken to the home, according to the Palm Beach police report. That report triggered the initial investigation.