Two days before his death on August 10, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein executed a new will — signed August 8, 2019 — placing his estimated $577 million estate into a trust.
The Will’s Contents
Epstein’s will established a trust and named two executors: Darren Indyke, a longtime attorney who had worked for Epstein for years, and Richard Kahn, his accountant. The executors were tasked with managing the estate distribution.
The Timing Question
The fact that Epstein executed a new will just two days before his death prompted immediate scrutiny. Some victim advocates and attorneys argued the timing suggested Epstein was contemplating death — either by suicide or otherwise — and was attempting to organize his estate before it happened. Others argued it was coincidental.
The $577 Million Estimate
Court filings placed the gross estate value at approximately $577 million, though the actual distributable value was subject to ongoing civil claims. The estate’s largest assets included real estate (five Virgin Islands properties, the Manhattan townhouse, the New Mexico ranch, a Paris apartment), aircraft, and financial accounts.
Victim Claims Against the Estate
Hundreds of civil claims were filed against the estate. The executors and victims’ counsel negotiated a compensation program that ultimately distributed approximately $125 million to over 135 claimants. Additional state-level and government claims further reduced the estate’s net value.
The Trust Structure
Placing the estate in trust gave the executors significant discretion in administration and potentially placed some assets beyond easy reach of creditors and claimants. The structure was challenged in various court proceedings by victims seeking to ensure their claims were adequately funded.
Significance
The last-minute will is one of several aspects of Epstein’s final days that have attracted ongoing scrutiny — a detail that, taken with other unexplained circumstances, fuels continuing questions about the events surrounding his death.