Question
Who funded and administered the Epstein Victims Compensation Program?
Answer
The Jeffrey Epstein Victims Compensation Program (VCP) was funded entirely by the Epstein estate — specifically the 1953 Trust and associated entities that held the bulk of Epstein’s assets. The program received no contributions from identified co-conspirators (such as Ghislaine Maxwell), institutions (JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank), or other named individuals.
Administration The program was administered by Jordana Feldman, a professional victim compensation fund manager with experience overseeing previous large-scale compensation programs including the BP Deepwater Horizon fund and the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (under her mentor Kenneth Feinberg). Feldman was selected by the estate executors as a neutral administrator to provide credibility to the process.
Structure Survivors who participated in the program were required to sign releases of certain civil claims against the estate as a condition of receiving compensation. The fund evaluated claims individually, with awards based on documented abuse and its impact. Awards ranged significantly — from tens of thousands to several million dollars depending on the severity and duration of abuse.
Outcomes The program ultimately paid more than $121 million to approximately 136 claimants. Some legal advocates described participation rates as lower than expected, partly because many survivors with ongoing litigation against third parties (JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, Maxwell) chose to preserve those claims rather than accept the estate’s release requirements.
Criticisms Victim advocates criticized the fund for not including contributions from institutions that had facilitated the abuse, and for compensation levels that many survivors considered inadequate relative to the lifetime harm suffered.
Sources
- Jordana Feldman, VCP administrator announcements
- Estate executors’ reports to USVI probate courts
- Legal filings related to victim compensation and estate distribution