Overview
Jeffrey Epstein owned two adjacent islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Little Saint James — the more frequently referenced property, sometimes called “Pedophile Island” in media coverage — was his primary island residence. Great Saint James, the larger neighboring island, was purchased by Epstein in 2016 for approximately $22.5 million.
Great Saint James: The Acquisition
Great Saint James is approximately 165 acres, substantially larger than the 70-acre Little Saint James. The island is located just northeast of Saint Thomas and immediately adjacent to Little Saint James.
Epstein acquired Great Saint James through a shell company in 2016. The purchase raised immediate questions at the time: Epstein was a registered sex offender, and the island had previously been the site of a residential development that had not been completed. Some residents and local government officials expressed concern about what Epstein intended to develop there.
Construction Activity
Following the acquisition, construction activity began on Great Saint James. Local news coverage noted equipment being transported to the island. Some accounts described construction of structures, though the full scope of what was built or planned was never publicly detailed before Epstein’s death in August 2019.
Seizure and Estate Proceedings
After Epstein’s death, both Little Saint James and Great Saint James became subject to estate proceedings. The U.S. Virgin Islands government pursued civil claims against the estate related to Epstein’s use of the USVI Economic Development Commission tax benefit program and the trafficking activities that occurred on the islands.
In 2022, the USVI reached a settlement with the Epstein estate for $105 million — the largest settlement in territorial history. The settlement resolved claims that the estate had benefited from Epstein’s trafficking operations in the USVI.
Both islands were subsequently sold. The sale of Little Saint James and Great Saint James together was completed in 2023. The combined sale generated funds that went into the estate’s victim compensation programs.
Victim Compensation Program
The estate’s Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program, administered by attorney Ken Feinberg, ultimately distributed funds to hundreds of survivors. The proceeds from island sales formed part of the asset pool available to the compensation program.
Broader Context
The acquisition of a second island shortly before Epstein’s 2019 arrest fueled speculation about his plans and about whether construction on Great Saint James involved any of the same purposes as his activity on Little Saint James. No confirmed findings have been made public about specific activities that occurred on Great Saint James before Epstein’s death.
Sources
U.S. Virgin Islands property records; USVI Department of Justice settlement press releases; estate court filings; local USVI news coverage of the 2016 acquisition; coverage of the 2023 island sale.