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According to a 2002
New York profile on Epstein, Wexner hired Epstein to be his financial adviser in 1987. (A 2003
Vanity Fair profile, however, references Epstein saying Wexner hired him in 1986, and then changing his story to say it was 1989.) Some speculated that Wexner was Epstein’s only client and therefore responsible for the bulk of his
fortune, but others denied this claim, including Epstein himself. According to a recent
follow-up by
Vanity Fair writer Vicky Ward, Wexner never commented on this matter directly.
“It’s a weird relationship,” a Wall Streeter who reportedly knew Epstein told
New York at the time. “It’s just not typical for someone of such enormous wealth to all of a sudden give his money to some guy most people have never heard of.”
Wexner told
Vanity Fair that he and Epstein “frequently discuss[ed] world trends,” Epstein being skilled in “seeing patterns” in politics and financial markets, Wexner in lifestyle and fashion.
According to a recent report by the
Times, Wexner trusted Epstein’s instincts so much, he assigned him power of attorney in July 1991. This allowed him to “hire people, sign checks, buy and sell properties and borrow money — all on Mr. Wexner’s behalf.” Epstein even took the place of Wexner’s ailing mother on the board of the Wexner Foundation in 1992. One person who worked for Wexner also told
Vanity Fair that Epstein was involved in “everything,” including litigation around the construction of Wexner’s yacht,
Limitless.
Were they close?
Beyond finances, the
New York profile describes Wexner as being Epstein’s “mentor.” A
Times article from 1996 calls Epstein his “protégé.” And in the
Vanity Fair profile, Wexner is also quoted describing Epstein as “a most loyal friend.”
That said, a spokeswoman for Wexner told the
Times on Monday that he “severed ties” with Mr. Epstein about a decade ago. A representative for Wexner reiterated this to the Cut on Tuesday as well.
What about their real-estate connection?
The New York property where Epstein allegedly committed his crimes — a seven-story
mansion at 9 East 71st Street — was originally bought by Wexner for $13 million in 1989. He did a full renovation but never moved in himself, preferring to stay in Ohio, where L Brands is headquartered.
According to
New York, Wexner “turned over” the property to Epstein in 1995. (Epstein publicly
claimed ownership in 1996.) One story, according to
New York, has Epstein paying only a dollar for it, though others say he paid $10 million. He then did a renovation of his own. The only records of a transaction are from 2011, when Epstein signed a transfer document for both parties. A purchase price was not listed, indicating that the transfer “did not involve any exchange of money,” according to the
Times.
Epstein also once owned a luxury estate near Wexner’s in Ohio. According to a new report by the
Times, Maria Farmer claims that Epstein sexually assaulted her in Wexner’s Ohio mansion in the summer of 1996. She filed the report earlier this year in federal court in Manhattan.
What does this have to do with Victoria’s Secret?
According to the
Times, less than a year after Farmer’s alleged assault, executives at L Brands learned that Epstein was “trying to involve himself in the recruitment of lingerie models for the Victoria’s Secret catalog.” In May 1997, Alicia Arden, a model in California, claims that Epstein identified himself as a “talent scout” for the lingerie brand. He allegedly invited her to his Santa Monica hotel room to “audition.” According to Arden, he grabbed her, tried to undress her, and said he wanted to “manhandle” her. She went to the police shortly thereafter and filed a report. It is one of the earliest known police records of an allegation of sexual misconduct against Epstein.