Where is Little St. James island?

Little St. James is a roughly 70-acre island located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, approximately one mile southeast of St. Thomas. Jeffrey Epstein purchased the island in 1998, according to USVI property records.

What buildings were on Epstein's island?

According to aerial imagery, USVI government filings, and reporting by the New York Times and Associated Press, structures on Little St. James included a main residential compound, guest houses, a blue-and-white striped building often referred to as the 'temple,' a sundial, maintenance structures, and staff quarters. The USVI AG complaint described the island as featuring extensive development.

What was the blue-striped building on Epstein's island?

The blue-and-white striped building on Little St. James was a distinctive structure visible in aerial photography. Its exact purpose has not been officially confirmed in court records. It was widely covered in media reporting and became one of the most recognizable features of the island.

What happened to Little St. James after Epstein's death?

Following Epstein's death in August 2019, both Little St. James and Great St. James became part of estate proceedings. The USVI AG filed a civil enforcement action in January 2020. In March 2022, the islands were listed for sale as part of the estate settlement, according to the Associated Press.

Who visited Epstein's island?

Flight logs from Epstein's private aircraft document individuals traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and some victim testimony references specific visitors. However, a comprehensive visitor log for the island has not been publicly released. Being documented as traveling to the region does not necessarily mean visiting Epstein's private island or involvement in criminal activity.

Did Epstein own more than one island?

Yes. In addition to Little St. James, Epstein purchased the neighboring Great St. James island (approximately 165 acres) in 2016, according to USVI property records. Development was underway on Great St. James at the time of Epstein's arrest in July 2019.

Little St. James: Epstein's Private Island — Complete History, Buildings & Investigation

Q: What happened during the FBI raid on Epstein's island?

In August 2019, following Epstein's death in federal custody, the FBI conducted a search of Little St. James. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, agents arrived by boat and helicopter to collect evidence from the property as part of the ongoing federal investigation.

Purchase History and Early Development

Jeffrey Epstein acquired Little St. James in 1998, according to USVI property records. The roughly 70-acre island sits in the U.S. Virgin Islands, about one mile southeast of St. Thomas. At the time of purchase, the island had minimal development. Over the following two decades, Epstein transformed it into an extensively developed private compound, according to reporting by the New York Times and the Associated Press.

USVI property records and permit filings indicate that construction expanded significantly through the 2000s and 2010s. The USVI Attorney General's complaint, filed in January 2020, alleged that Epstein used USVI-based corporate entities to manage the island's development and operations. According to the complaint, local government agencies received permit applications and building plans for numerous structures on the property.

For broader context on the Epstein case, see our hub page on the Epstein files or the biographical overview.

Known Structures on Little St. James

According to aerial imagery, government filings, media reporting, and court documents, Little St. James featured numerous structures. Our detailed analysis is available in the island buildings and structures guide.

Main Residential Compound

The primary residence on the island was a large complex situated on elevated ground, according to the New York Times and aerial photography. The compound included living quarters, entertainment areas, and supporting facilities. According to the USVI AG complaint, the residence was where Epstein hosted visitors and where alleged criminal conduct occurred.

The Blue-and-White Striped Building

One of the most visually distinctive structures on Little St. James was a building featuring blue-and-white striped exterior walls and a gold dome, visible in widely published aerial photographs. This structure was extensively covered in media reporting by the New York Times and other outlets. Its precise purpose has not been officially established in court records, though it has been the subject of significant public speculation and media coverage.

Guest Houses and Staff Quarters

The island featured multiple guest residences and staff quarters, according to government filings and aerial imagery. The USVI AG complaint described the island as employing numerous staff members who worked on the property. According to the complaint, workers were brought to the island from St. Thomas and other locations.

Sundial and Grounds

A large sundial structure was visible in aerial photographs, along with landscaped grounds, pathways, and a helipad. According to the Associated Press, the island featured infrastructure including a private dock, a helicopter landing pad, and utility facilities to support its isolated location.

Infrastructure

As a private island, Little St. James required self-contained infrastructure. According to government filings and media reporting, this included power generation facilities, water systems, a private dock for boat access, and communications equipment.

Great St. James: The Second Island

In 2016, Epstein purchased neighboring Great St. James, a larger island of approximately 165 acres, according to USVI property records and the Associated Press. Development work was underway on this second island at the time of Epstein's arrest in July 2019. According to local reporting, this construction drew complaints from neighboring property owners and environmental concerns from local authorities.

The USVI AG complaint referenced both islands as part of Epstein's operations in the territory. Both properties became part of the estate proceedings following his death.

Role in the Federal Investigation

Little St. James featured prominently in the criminal case against Epstein. According to the federal indictment (Case No. 19-cr-00490, SDNY), Epstein allegedly used residences in multiple locations, including the Virgin Islands, in connection with sex trafficking offenses. The indictment, filed in July 2019, described a pattern of conduct spanning multiple properties.

Victim testimony referenced in court filings and the USVI AG complaint described how young women and girls were allegedly brought to Little St. James. According to these filings, the island's geographic isolation was allegedly used to facilitate the abuse by limiting victims' ability to leave or seek help. For a comprehensive timeline of the investigation, see our investigation timeline.

The FBI Raid (August 2019)

Following Epstein's death in federal custody on August 10, 2019, the FBI conducted a search of Little St. James. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, agents arrived at the island by boat and helicopter on August 12, 2019. The search was part of the continuing federal investigation, which prosecutors confirmed would proceed despite Epstein's death.

According to reporting by the New York Times, the FBI spent approximately a day on the island collecting evidence. The specific items recovered during the search have not been publicly detailed, though the broader investigation yielded evidence used in subsequent proceedings, including the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell.

USVI Attorney General Enforcement Action

In January 2020, the U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General filed a sweeping civil enforcement action against Epstein's estate, according to the USVI AG's office. The complaint focused heavily on Little St. James and alleged that:

Epstein used USVI-based entities as part of a criminal enterprise, according to the complaint
Young women and girls were brought to the island where abuse occurred, according to victim testimony cited in the filing
Local officials had received complaints about activities on the island, according to the complaint
Epstein's corporate structure in the USVI facilitated the concealment of criminal conduct, according to the filing

The enforcement action sought substantial penalties and the forfeiture of island assets. It also prompted major financial settlements from institutions that had banking relationships with Epstein's USVI entities. JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay $75 million to the USVI in September 2023, according to Reuters. Deutsche Bank separately settled with the USVI for $75 million, according to the New York Times. For the full story on the banking cases, see our banking lawsuits analysis.

Current Status

Following Epstein's death, both Little St. James and Great St. James entered estate settlement proceedings. In March 2022, the islands were listed for sale, according to the Associated Press. The estate sought to liquidate the properties as part of broader settlement obligations, including victim compensation.

For the latest developments on the island's disposition, see our 2026 status update.

What We Know

Based on court records, government filings, and verified reporting:

Epstein purchased Little St. James in 1998 and Great St. James in 2016, per USVI property records
The island was extensively developed with numerous structures over two decades
Federal prosecutors and the USVI AG alleged the island was used in connection with sex trafficking
The FBI searched the island in August 2019 following Epstein's death, per Reuters
The USVI AG's enforcement action resulted in major financial settlements from banking institutions
The islands were listed for sale as part of estate proceedings in 2022, per the AP

What We Don't Know

Significant questions remain about Little St. James:

The complete record of visitors to the island has not been publicly released
The full extent of what the FBI recovered during the August 2019 search has not been disclosed
The precise purpose of several structures, including the blue-and-white striped building, has not been officially confirmed in court records
Whether all evidence from the island has been recovered and analyzed
The final disposition of the properties in estate proceedings

Primary Sources

USVI Attorney General complaint, January 2020 — vi.gov
Federal indictment, U.S. v. Epstein, SDNY — justice.gov
Associated Press, island sale reporting — apnews.com
USVI property records — vi.gov
Reuters, FBI search and JPMorgan settlement — reuters.com
New York Times, island reporting — nytimes.com
Miami Herald, "Perversion of Justice" — miamiherald.com

This page is a detailed companion to our broader Epstein Island hub. For Epstein's other properties, see Epstein Properties: Zorro Ranch & Beyond. Browse the case timeline or explore the document library.