Paedophile Epstein ‘is hiding extent of his wealth’
JEFFREY Epstein was accused of hiding the true extent of his wealth as he claimed not to be a billionaire – after years of dining out on the fact.
The paedophile financier, who used to be friends with Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, claimed in a court filing that his assets were worth less than half of what was previously thought.
But prosecutors rejected the figures – which ran to less than one page – because they were selfreported. They suggested Epstein could be hiding more money.
A judge said the document claimwas ing he is worth €494million was ‘cursory’ and that Epstein, who has been extremely secretive about his money, must hand over more information.
In the report, Epstein, 66, failed to list his private jet, his fleet of expensive cars, diamonds found in his safe or his extravagant art collection.
His fortune has been a source of speculation for years, fanned by his ostentatious displays of wealth. Of the reported €494million, there is €50million in cash and a fixed annual income of €12.6million.
He said he has €100million in stocks and shares and €172million in private equity and hedge funds.
Epstein’s home in Paris was valued at €6.6million while his two private islands in the Caribbean, Little St James and Great St James, were said to be worth €56million and almost €19million respectively. His home in Palm Beach, Florida, where he allegedly abused dozens of girls, worth €10million. He is accused of paying dozens of underage girls – some as young as 14 – for sex, according to a filed US indictment.
During his bail hearing, prosecutor Alex Rossmiller called the financial disclosure form ‘very minimal’ and said it was ‘more significant for what it does not include than what it does’. He said: ‘We’re just relying on the defendant’s word for all of this’.
At a press conference yesterday, a lawyer for Epstein’s victims said his abuse of young girls was his ‘fulltime job’ – and claimed he abused three or four victims every day.
Brad Edwards claimed Epstein employed staff whose sole job was to book ‘appointments’ with victims where he would ask for a massage which led to sex. Mr Edwards also alleged the financier even had sex with young women in his office while on day release from prison in 2008. He had been jailed after admitting procuring underage girls for sex.
The latest case of alleged abuse took place between 2002 and 2005. Around 14 victims have come forward since prosecutors made another appeal after his arrest.
Epstein has denied two counts of sex trafficking. He faces 45 years behind bars if convicted.
‘Must hand over more information’