The Property
9 East 71st Street in Manhattan’s Upper East Side is among the largest private residences in New York City:
- Nine stories of living space
- Approximately 21,000 square feet of interior area
- Prime location near Central Park and the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods
- Adjacent to the Frick Collection museum
The Wexner Purchase and Transfer
Les Wexner purchased the property in 1989 for approximately $13.2 million. This was at a time when Wexner was one of America’s wealthiest men, having built the L Brands / Victoria’s Secret empire.
In approximately 1996, Wexner transferred the property to Epstein for $0 — no consideration. This transfer of what had become an extremely valuable property for nothing is one of the most extraordinary documented transactions in the Epstein case.
By 2019, the mansion was valued at approximately $56 million.
Interior Features
The mansion’s contents, documented during search warrants and estate proceedings:
- Art collection including pieces of questionable provenance
- A wall of photographs including celebrity and political connections
- Rooms described as “massage rooms” with medical-style tables
- An extensive library and study
- Staff quarters on the upper floors
- A basement/utility level
Social Activities at the Mansion
The townhouse served multiple purposes:
- Intellectual gatherings: Scientists, academics, and thinkers were regularly invited
- Social entertainment: Dinner parties with celebrities, politicians, and financial figures
- Criminal activity: According to victims, the mansion was a primary site of Epstein’s abuse
The FBI Searches
FBI agents searched the mansion twice:
- 2019 search (upon arrest): Yielded the safe with fake passport, diamonds, and cash; photographs; and evidence of criminal activity
- Subsequent searches: Additional evidence collection as the case developed
After Epstein’s Death
The Manhattan mansion became an estate asset. Its sale was complicated by:
- The property’s association with Epstein’s crimes
- Law enforcement evidence holds
- Victim compensation claims against the estate
The property was eventually listed and sold as part of estate liquidation, with proceeds flowing into victim compensation funds.