How did Les Wexner's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein begin and evolve over time?
Executive summary
Les Wexner’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein began in the mid-1980s when Wexner hired Epstein as his financial manager; Epstein had “wide latitude” and at times power of attorney over Wexner’s finances, and Wexner says he severed active ties around 2007 amid growing allegations, later accusing Epstein of stealing “tens of millions” and reclaiming about $47 million to a family foundation [1] [2] [3]. Reporting and released documents show the relationship extended beyond money — Epstein held roles in Wexner’s New Albany development and served as a named trustee and donor to Wexner philanthropic efforts — and new material (birthday-book pages, photos, committee releases) has continued to renew scrutiny [4] [5] [6].
1. How they met and why Epstein was trusted
Wexner met Epstein in the 1980s when Epstein was working as a New York financier; Wexner retained him as his personal money manager in roughly 1987 and Epstein became Wexner’s primary client, a striking arrangement given Epstein’s limited formal credentials [1] [7]. Wexner publicly described Epstein as having “excellent judgment,” and court and journalistic records show Epstein was granted expansive authority — including power of attorney in 1991 — that allowed him to act broadly on Wexner’s behalf while Wexner focused on building his retail empire and philanthropy [8] [2].
2. Financial control, property transfers and the New Albany tie
Documents and reporting show the relationship included business roles and property dealings: Epstein was identified as president, with Wexner, of The New Albany Company around 1998; Epstein owned a home in the New Albany development until that property was conveyed to the Wexners for $0 in December 2007 [4] [2]. Reporting also says Epstein controlled or facilitated major acquisitions, including the Manhattan townhouse later forfeited after Epstein’s arrest, indicating his influence went beyond bookkeeping into significant asset moves [9] [2].
3. Allegations, the 2007 cutoff and claims of theft
Wexner has said he cut ties with Epstein in 2007 as allegations in Florida first surfaced; in 2019 Wexner publicly accused Epstein of misappropriating “vast sums” and the family later recovered approximately $47 million that was routed to a new foundation established by Abigail Wexner in December 2007 [5] [2] [3]. Multiple outlets repeat that Wexner says Epstein “stole tens of millions” and Wexner describes having been unaware of criminal activity, while court filings and depositions revealed no new direct criminal allegations against Wexner in recently released document troves [1] [2].
4. New material and renewed scrutiny — birthday book, photos, committee releases
Since federal and congressional document releases, images and pages from a 2003 “50th birthday” book for Epstein — including a crude drawing and what appears to be Wexner’s handwriting — were publicized by outlets and committees, along with a photo showing Wexner with his arm around Epstein; those materials have reignited questions about the personal aspects of the relationship and whether Wexner’s denials of knowledge fully address survivors’ concerns [5] [6] [10]. Wexner and the Wexner Foundation have characterized Epstein’s foundation participation as largely “in name only,” but survivors and some reporting press for fuller accountability and transparency [5] [6].
5. Conflicting narratives and remaining gaps
Sources present competing frames: Wexner’s defenses emphasize a financial-manager relationship and insist he severed ties once allegations emerged and later sought restitution [8] [2]. Investigative reporting and survivors’ statements suggest the relationship “ran deep,” with Epstein embedded in social, philanthropic and property ventures tied to Wexner — raising questions about how much Wexner knew and what oversight existed [5] [9] [11]. Released documents, depositions and committee postings have clarified roles but, according to reporting, have “revealed no fresh allegations” directly implicating Wexner as a participant in Epstein’s sexual crimes [2].
6. Why this still matters — power, access and institutional ties
The Wexner–Epstein story illustrates how financial authority, philanthropic networks and personal access can amplify an enabler’s reach: Epstein’s role as trustee and donor at Wexner-linked institutions and his operational latitude through power of attorney expanded his social access, and survivors and commentators argue that the breadth of that access demands institutional reckoning [9] [4] [11]. Congressional releases and continuing DOJ inquiries into co‑conspirators and enablers mean questions about the full scope of Epstein’s network — and Wexner’s part in it — remain live, even as major outlets note no new criminal allegations against Wexner in recent document dumps [9] [2].
Limitations: available sources document the financial relationship, property links, and subsequent restitutions and public statements, but they do not establish criminal charges against Wexner; they also leave unanswered the full content of private communications and the precise timeline of every transaction [2] [8]. For now, reporting shows a powerful financier who entrusted Epstein with broad authority, later alleged theft and cut ties amid accusations — and fresh document releases continue to sustain scrutiny [1] [2] [6].