Overview
While Epstein’s most extensively documented criminal activity took place in the United States — particularly in Palm Beach and New York — his network extended internationally across multiple continents. Understanding the global dimension of his operation helps explain its scale, how victims were recruited, and why accountability remained so difficult.
United Kingdom Connections
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s closest associate, was British and maintained extensive connections in UK high society. Through Maxwell, Epstein was introduced to British elites including members of the royal family. Prince Andrew’s social relationship with Epstein and Maxwell was primarily cultivated in British social circles before extending to US properties.
France and Europe
Epstein maintained a Paris apartment, reportedly near the Eiffel Tower in the 16th arrondissement. Jean-Luc Brunel, the French modeling agency owner who was eventually arrested and died in French custody, operated partly through the French fashion industry as a recruitment channel. Epstein’s European operations added a layer of social legitimacy through connections to models, fashion, and European elite culture.
US Virgin Islands
Epstein registered several companies in the US Virgin Islands, which gave him significant tax advantages under USVI Economic Development Commission incentives. The USVI was also where Little Saint James and Great Saint James islands were located — his most geographically isolated properties and, per victim accounts, sites of extensive abuse.
New Mexico
While domestic, Zorro Ranch in New Mexico served as a semi-remote retreat that gave Epstein and associates geographic distance from the public and media.
International Travel Patterns
Epstein’s private aviation fleet enabled travel to all these locations without commercial airline screening. His flight logs documented trips across the US as well as to Europe, the Caribbean, and further destinations. This mobility was essential to the operation’s scale.
Implications
The international character of Epstein’s network meant that no single national legal jurisdiction had full visibility into his activities, contributed to prosecution complexity, and enabled him to operate for decades with minimal accountability.