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Who currently owns Jeffrey Epstein's Little Saint James and other properties?
Executive summary
Stephen Deckoff, a private-equity investor, bought both Little Saint James and neighboring Great Saint James from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate in May 2023 for about $60 million; Deckoff’s firm says it plans a 25-room luxury resort and some sale proceeds go to a $105 million settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands [1] [2] [3]. Reporting since the sale shows Deckoff (through SD Investments/Black Diamond–linked entities) as the public buyer, while local reaction, redevelopment timelines and on-the-ground work remain unevenly reported [4] [5] [6].
1. Who officially bought Little Saint James — the buyer named in news coverage
Multiple mainstream outlets identify financier Stephen Deckoff as the purchaser of both Little Saint James and Great Saint James in May 2023; the reported sale price for the two islands combined was approximately $60 million and was confirmed by Deckoff and estate lawyers in contemporaneous reporting [1] [2] [3].
2. What entities and plans are linked to the purchase
Coverage states Deckoff bought the islands through investment vehicles tied to him (reported as SD Investments or firms connected to his private-equity activities) and announced intentions to develop a 25-room, high-end resort — hiring architects and engineers and aiming for an opening date projected in 2025 in early statements [4] [5] [3].
3. Why the sale mattered financially to victims’ claims and the Virgin Islands
News reports note a portion of the sale proceeds were earmarked to satisfy a prior settlement between Epstein’s estate and the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands — reporting names a roughly $105 million settlement tied to litigation over trafficking claims, and one outlet says a significant portion of this sale went to satisfy that agreement [1] [2] [7].
4. Conflicting or follow‑up reporting on redevelopment and timing
Early 2023–2024 reporting described an ambitious 2025 opening; later coverage (through 2025 reporting snippets here) indicates redevelopment timelines have been delayed or progress is mixed — satellite imagery and stories describe limited construction to date and delays in large-scale redevelopment [6] [8]. Available sources do not provide a definitive current construction status as of November 2025 in this set; some outlets in 2024–2025 continued to show Deckoff as the owner but noted slower-than-expected transformation [6] [9].
5. Other Epstein properties — what these sources say (and don’t)
The provided reporting focuses overwhelmingly on the two Virgin Islands islands; it references Epstein’s wider estate value and settlements but does not comprehensively list the current owners of Epstein’s other properties (Manhattan townhouse, New Mexico ranch, Florida homes) in these sources. Therefore, available sources do not mention a complete, sourced ownership map of Epstein’s other properties beyond the islands and estate settlement context [1] [3].
6. Local reaction and ethical questions reported
Some local voices and outlets — referenced indirectly in the 2025 coverage — describe mixed community reactions: some welcome investment and jobs, others believe the islands should remain untouched as memorials to victims [8]. Reporting also highlights the islands’ tainted history and the sensitive nature of turning a site tied to abuse into a commercial resort, which has shaped both public debate and the handling of redevelopment plans [4] [9].
7. How reliable is this picture — limits and disagreements in the reporting
Major outlets (New York Times, NPR, CNBC, Forbes) consistently named Deckoff as buyer and cited the $60 million figure and resort plan, giving a strong consensus on ownership and initial intent [1] [4] [2] [3]. Later pieces introduce nuance about delays and scant visible construction, indicating plans can change; the sources here do not present a single up-to-the-minute inspector’s report or government confirmation of completed redevelopment, so readers should treat projected opening dates and construction claims as tentative [6] [8].
8. Bottom line for readers seeking current ownership and next steps
As of the reporting collected here, Stephen Deckoff (through associated investment firms) is the publicly reported owner of Little Saint James and Great Saint James following the May 2023 sale for about $60 million, and he publicly announced resort plans while some practical redevelopment has been slower than early timetables suggested [1] [3] [6]. For verification of any more recent transfers, construction permits, or official local-government filings beyond these reports, current local land‑registry or Virgin Islands planning records would be the next step — available sources do not mention those specific records in this set [6] [8].