The Epstein Estate Liquidation Process
When Jeffrey Epstein died intestate — without a will — in August 2019, his estate of approximately $577 million entered a complex legal process to address multiple competing claims from victims, legal settlements, tax authorities, and creditors.
The September 2019 Will
Shortly before his death — just two days before — Epstein executed a will on August 8, 2019, placing his assets into a 1953 Trust, named for the year of his birth. This trust effectively shielded assets from some individual creditor claims by consolidating them under trust management.
The will and trust structure were challenged by victim advocates and lawyers as a last-ditch attempt to protect assets from direct victim claims.
Estate Administration
The estate was administered under US Virgin Islands law, as Epstein’s legal domicile was the USVI. Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn were named as co-executors. Both had been Epstein’s attorneys and financial advisors during his lifetime, a fact that drew criticism from victim advocates.
The Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program
The estate established the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program (EVCP) in June 2020, administered by Kenneth Feinberg’s Feinberg Rozen LLP — the firm that had administered the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
- Claimants who participated in EVCP received compensation in exchange for releasing their claims against the estate
- The program ran from 2020 through multiple rounds
- Over 130 claimants received payments by 2024
- Total EVCP disbursements exceeded $150 million
- Individual awards reportedly averaged approximately $1.5 million, with some substantially higher for more severe or extensive abuse
Major Property Sales
As estate assets were liquidated:
Palm Beach mansion (El Brillo Way): Sold in June 2021 for approximately $22.5 million to Todd Michael Glaser, a developer who then demolished the structure and sold the lot. The sale was reported below estimated value for the property’s location but reflected the reputational shadow on the property.
Manhattan townhouse (9 East 71st Street): The 7-story townhouse — one of the largest private residences in Manhattan — was listed and eventually sold in 2022 for approximately $51 million to Goldman Sachs executive Michael Daffey, representing a below-market price for its location and size.
Zorro Ranch (New Mexico): The New Mexico property went through multiple sale processes. A buyer was eventually secured for the ranch.
Little Saint James (USVI): The island was listed for sale with an asking price of approximately $125 million. The sale process was complicated by victim advocacy groups and ongoing legal claims. A sale reportedly closed for approximately $60 million.
Institutional Settlements
Major institutional settlements running parallel to estate liquidation:
- JPMorgan: ~$290 million (combined USVI and victim plaintiff settlements)
- Deutsche Bank: ~$150 million (DFS settlement)
- USVI government: ~$105 million
- Barclays/Staley-adjacent: various regulatory fines
These institutional settlements flowed separately from the estate itself but represented overall Epstein-related financial accountability exceeding $700 million in aggregate.
Related: Epstein estate details; EVCP; real estate holdings; USVI settlement; JPMorgan settlement