Question
Who are the executors of the Epstein estate?
Answer
Jeffrey Epstein signed a new will on August 8, 2019 — just two days before his death in federal custody. The will named Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn as executors of his estate, which was estimated at approximately $577 million at the time of his death.
Indyke had served as Epstein’s longtime lawyer, and Kahn had served as his financial advisor and accountant. Both were therefore deeply familiar with the structure of Epstein’s assets and financial entities. The timing of the will — less than 48 hours before his death — was noted by investigators and commentators as significant.
Under the executors, Epstein’s assets were transferred to a trust structure registered in the U.S. Virgin Islands shortly before his death. This restructuring was scrutinized by the USVI attorney general’s office as a potential mechanism for shielding assets from victim claims.
The executors established the Jeffrey Epstein Victims Compensation Program in 2020, administered by Kenneth Feinberg, which ultimately paid out over $121 million to more than 150 claimants. Victims who participated in the compensation program were required to waive further civil claims against the estate.
The executors faced legal challenges from various creditors and claimants throughout the estate resolution process.
Sources
- Epstein probate proceedings, U.S. Virgin Islands, 2019
- New York Times reporting on the estate trust restructuring
- Jeffrey Epstein Victims Compensation Program final report, 2021