Les Wexner — founder of L Brands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret — gave Jeffrey Epstein unprecedented control over his personal finances in the late 1980s. The financial scale of that relationship, and what Wexner ultimately lost, is a subject of ongoing examination.
The power of attorney:
In 1991, Wexner gave Epstein a sweeping power of attorney that allowed Epstein to sign documents, make financial decisions, and act on Wexner’s behalf without seeking specific authorization for each transaction. This was an extraordinary grant of financial authority to someone who was not a family member.
The Manhattan townhouse:
The most prominent documented transfer is the Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street. The property was originally purchased by a Wexner-controlled entity and transferred to Epstein. Depending on when valuation is measured, the property was worth approximately $51–77 million. This single transaction transferred enormous wealth.
Other documented transfers:
Wexner has acknowledged that Epstein misappropriated funds from him, stating in 2019 that he believed Epstein had stolen — his word — “vast sums” of money. Wexner estimated losses could be in the range of $46 million, though this figure is based on what was reported following Wexner’s public statement rather than a formal audit result.
The L Brands and Victoria’s Secret connection:
Epstein’s involvement in some L Brands-adjacent activities — including his association with modeling and talent through his network, and whether this connection had any relationship to L Brands’ Victoria’s Secret operations — has been investigated but not resulted in findings of formal financial misconduct by the public company.
Wexner’s position:
Wexner has characterized himself as a victim of Epstein’s financial manipulation rather than a co-conspirator. He has acknowledged the closeness of the relationship was a source of deep embarrassment.