“Epstein’s First Law: Know when you are winning.” Photo: Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images
Jeffrey Edward Epstein was an American financier, convicted sex offender and accused human trafficker whose life and death exposed one of the most disturbing abuse networks involving powerful figures in modern history. Born on January 20, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, Epstein rose from modest beginnings to move within the highest circles of global wealth a climb that would later raise serious and unresolved questions.
Epstein first worked as a teacher at the Dalton School in Manhattan, despite lacking a college degree, before entering finance in the late 1970s. He later founded J. Epstein & Co., a private firm he claimed managed billions for ultra-wealthy clients. However, Epstein never publicly disclosed who his clients were, and no clear evidence ever showed how he accumulated his fortune, fueling long-standing suspicions.
By the early 2000s, Epstein owned multiple luxury properties, including a Manhattan mansion, a sprawling estate in Palm Beach, residences in Paris and New Mexico, and a private Caribbean island in the U.S. Virgin Islands later infamous as “Little Saint James.”
Epstein’s criminal activities came into public view in 2005, when police in Palm Beach began investigating allegations that he had sexually abused underage girls at his home. The investigation uncovered a pattern: young girls, some as young as 14, were recruited, paid for “massages,” and then sexually abused.
In 2008, Epstein struck a highly controversial non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, allowing him to plead guilty only to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor. He served 13 months in jail mostly on work release a deal that sparked outrage and was later described by a U.S. judge as illegal and improper.
Despite being registered as a sex offender, Epstein continued socializing with influential figures, attending high-profile events and maintaining access to wealth and power.
In July 2019, Epstein was arrested again, this time by federal authorities, and charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy involving dozens of underage girls across multiple states. Prosecutors described his operation as a long-running trafficking scheme that relied on intimidation, secrecy and financial control.
While awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, Epstein was found dead in his cell on August 10, 2019. His death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, though failures by jail staff and surveillance systems fueled global skepticism and intense public scrutiny.
Epstein never stood trial.
According to multiple accounts from survivors and journalists, Epstein reportedly referred to himself in private as “the devil” or “the devil himself,” a phrase used to describe his manipulation, lack of remorse and psychological control over victims. While not a verified public statement, the phrase has become symbolic of how victims and investigators characterized his behavior.
Epstein’s association with politicians, royalty, billionaires and celebrities including former presidents, business tycoons and foreign leaders has kept his case alive years after his death. Many of these figures deny wrongdoing, and no definitive evidence has tied most to criminal acts, but the scale of Epstein’s access remains deeply troubling.
