Question
What was the 1953 Epstein Virgin Islands Trust?
Answer
The 1953 Epstein Virgin Islands Trust was a trust named after Epstein’s birth year (1953) that was designated as the beneficiary of all his assets in the will he signed on August 8, 2019 — just two days before his death on August 10.
Epstein’s 2019 will directed that his entire estate be transferred to this trust, which was incorporated in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The trust structure raised immediate concerns from victim advocates because:
- Trusts can be more difficult for creditors and claimants to reach than directly held assets
- The will’s execution just two days before death suggested last-minute asset protection planning
- The USVI incorporation placed the primary estate vehicle in a jurisdiction that offered particular legal protections
Despite these concerns, the estate ultimately established the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program that paid over $121 million to survivors. The USVI government separately sued the estate and received a $105 million settlement in 2024 for claims that Epstein had trafficked women through USVI territory.
The trust was administered by executors Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, Epstein’s longtime attorney and accountant respectively.
Sources
- U.S. Virgin Islands Probate Court filings
- Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program disclosures
- Media reporting on the estate, 2019-2024