A visual guide to understanding the Epstein files

Jeffrey Epstein, a financier who became the focus of one of the most high-profile sex trafficking scandals in the United States, was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. He attended Cooper Union and New York University between 1969 and 1974 but did not complete a degree.

Epstein later taught mathematics and physics at the elite Dalton School before moving into finance, joining Bear Stearns in 1976. He left the firm in 1981 following a regulatory issue and later founded his own financial management company in the 1980s.

In 1991, he met Ghislaine Maxwell, who would later be identified as a key accomplice in his operations.

Police in Florida began investigating Epstein in 2005 for the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to charges related to procuring a minor for prostitution and served 13 months in jail.

More than a decade later, in 2019, Epstein was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. That same year, he was found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial. Authorities ruled his death a suicide.

Where was Epstein’s island?

In 1998, Jeffrey Epstein bought a private island called Little Saint James in the US Virgin Islands for about $8 million. The island was extremely secluded and could only be reached by boat or helicopter, which made it one of his main residences. Investigations later identified it as a central location in his trafficking network, with released records including island plans, photographs, logbooks, and detailed records of boat movements.

In 2016, Epstein increased his property holdings in the region by purchasing the neighbouring island, Great Saint James, which is larger than Little Saint James.

In May 2023, billionaire Stephen Deckoff, founder of the private equity firm Black Diamond Capital Management, announced that he had acquired both Great Saint James and Little Saint James for $60 million.

Jeffrey Epstein controlled at least six major properties across different parts of the world.

In Manhattan, he owned a large Upper East Side townhouse at 9 East 71st Street. The mansion was later sold in 2021 for about $51 million to Michael Daffey, a former Goldman Sachs executive.

He also held Zorro Ranch, a vast property near Stanley, New Mexico, which was sold in 2023. In Palm Beach, Florida, Epstein owned a waterfront mansion at 358 El Brillo Way. Prosecutors said many of the alleged sex crimes took place there. The house was demolished by a developer in 2021 in an effort to remove the site’s association with the case.

In the Caribbean, Epstein owned Little Saint James, his main private island residence, along with the neighbouring and larger Great Saint James.

Outside the United States, he also possessed a luxury apartment at 22 Avenue Foch in Paris’s 16th arrondissement. The property was later sold for $10.4 million to Bulgarian plastic packaging businessman Georgi Tuchev.

At the time of his death in 2019, Epstein’s global real estate holdings were estimated to be worth around $180 million, although much of the portfolio was later sold at reduced prices.

Key figures in Epstein’s inner network

Jeffrey Epstein operated a complex and long-running network that relied on several close associates who allegedly helped facilitate his activities over many years.

In January, the US Justice Department released documents that included a diagram outlining figures connected to Epstein’s inner circle. Parts of the chart were redacted, with several names and faces obscured.

Below are some of the most notable individuals linked to his network:

Key figures linked to Epstein’s inner circle

• Richard Kahn: Epstein’s longtime accountant who served as co-executor of his estate with Darren Indyke. He was set to receive $25 million under the will.
  
• Lesley Groff: One of Epstein’s personal assistants. Prosecutors had considered indicting her in 2007, and victims said she helped organize travel and logistics.
  
• Jean-Luc Brunel: A French modelling agent funded by Epstein in 2004 to start MC2 Model Management. Several victims said he helped recruit girls. He died by suicide in a Paris prison in 2022 before trial.
  
• Harry Beller: A financial adviser who worked under Richard Kahn as part of a small team managing sensitive financial matters.
  
• Ghislaine Maxwell: A close associate since the 1990s who played a major role in recruiting girls and young women.
  
• Darren Indyke: Epstein’s personal lawyer, deeply involved in his financial affairs and named to receive $50 million in the will.
  
  

Notable names linked to Epstein

Documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein include references to people from royal families, politics, business and the technology sector. Their appearance in emails, photos or contact records does not automatically imply wrongdoing.

Some of the most prominent names mentioned include:

• Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor): The younger brother of King Charles. He lost his royal titles last year. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for him to testify before a US congressional committee, while police are reviewing related allegations.
  
• Donald Trump: The US president is referenced thousands of times in the files. He has denied any wrongdoing and says he cut ties with Epstein years ago.
  
• Bill Clinton: The former US president appears in several photos and was pictured with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s.
  
• Bill Gates: Emails show communication between the Microsoft cofounder and Epstein dating back to 2013.
  
• Elon Musk: Documents include emails discussing possible travel plans, though Musk has said he never visited Epstein’s island.
  
• Ehud Barak: The former Israeli prime minister is mentioned in several documents, including messages about a planned stay at Epstein’s New York residence. He has acknowledged contact but denied any misconduct.
  
• Peter Mandelson: The UK’s former US ambassador, now under police investigation. Emails suggest he shared sensitive government information during the 2008 financial crisis.
  
• Mette-Marit Hoiby: Norway’s crown prince exchanged emails with Epstein after his 2008 conviction.
  
• Richard Branson: The Virgin Group founder appears in numerous files, though he says meetings were limited to group or business settings.
  
• Sarah Ferguson: The Duchess of York appears in several emails.
  
• Steve Bannon: Trump’s former adviser appears in thousands of messages, mostly from 2018 to 2019.
  
• Howard Lutnick: The billionaire businessman reportedly planned a family visit to Epstein’s island.
  
• Noam Chomsky: Documents indicate communications in which he may have advised Epstein on media coverage.
  
• Deepak Chopra: Files show contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction.
  
• Ariane de Rothschild: The banking executive met Epstein several times in New York and Paris before his arrest.
  
• Sergey Brin: The Google cofounder reportedly visited Epstein’s island and discussed plans to meet him in New York.
  
• Miroslav Lajcak: The Slovak national security adviser resigned after emails involving young women surfaced.
  
• Thorbjorn Jagland: The former Norwegian prime minister is under investigation tied to email exchanges with Epstein.

Other names appearing in the documents include:

Peter Thiel, Larry Summers, Steve Tisch, Jack Lang, Caroline Lang, Borge Brende, Mona Juul, Terje Rod-Larsen, Brad Karp, Casey Wasserman, and Brett Ratner.

Authorities and investigators have emphasized that the presence of a name in the files does not, by itself, prove involvement in any criminal activity.

How to Access the Epstein Files

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in the US on November 19, 2025, mandated that the Department of Justice release all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days.

The DOJ identified six million pages of evidence, but to date, only 3.5 million pages have been made public, including roughly 180,000 images and 2,000 videos. The released materials include email chains, text messages, investigative reports, news articles, bank statements, wire transfers, flight logs, and FBI interview summaries.

The documents are divided into 12 data sets, each covering different categories of evidence:

• Data Sets 1–8: FBI interview summaries and police reports from Palm Beach, Florida, covering 2005–2008.
  
• Data Set 9: Email communications, including private messages between Epstein and high-profile figures, and DOJ correspondence regarding the 2008 non-prosecution agreement that granted federal immunity to Epstein and potential accomplices.
  
• Data Set 10: Around 180,000 images and 2,000 videos were seized from Epstein’s properties. These materials are heavily redacted to protect potential victims, though critics note some victims remain identifiable while alleged perpetrators are shielded.
  
• Data Set 11: Financial records, flight logs to Epstein’s US Virgin Islands, and property seizure documentation.
  
• Data Set 12: Late-produced and supplemental materials—approximately 150 documents requiring more detailed legal review.

This structured release allows researchers, journalists, and the public to access a vast amount of previously confidential information related to Epstein’s activities.