Following Jeffrey Epstein’s death in August 2019, his estate — administered under New York law — established the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program (EVCP) as a mechanism for distributing money to confirmed victims without requiring individual civil litigation. The program was modeled on similar mechanisms used after mass tort claims.
Administrator
The estate selected Kenneth Feinberg, a nationally known attorney specializing in mass compensation programs, to administer the EVCP. Feinberg had previously administered the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, the BP Gulf Coast Claims Facility, and the General Motors Ignition Switch compensation program. His appointment was broadly respected as bringing recognized expertise.
Program Structure
Victims were invited to submit claims documenting their abuse. Claims were reviewed by Feinberg’s office, which applied a framework that weighted:
- Duration of abuse: Longer-term abuse resulted in higher compensation
- Severity: The nature of the abuse
- Age at time of first abuse: Younger victims at the time of initial contact could receive higher amounts
- Corroboration: Document, testimony, or contemporaneous evidence supporting claims
- Individual harm evidence: Medical, psychological, and life impact documentation
Volume of Claims
The program received hundreds of claims. Feinberg’s office reviewed each and made individual determinations.
Total Distribution
The EVCP distributed approximately $125 million across all confirmed claimants. Individual payments ranged from relatively modest amounts to several million dollars for the most severely impacted victims.
Additional Settlements
The fund was separate from civil settlements reached with third parties who were also defendants. JPMorgan Chase settled for $290 million (combined), Deutsche Bank settled for $75 million (combined), and the estates of various Epstein-connected entities entered separate settlements with the USVI.
Victims’ Perspectives
Some victims and advocates expressed satisfaction that the program provided compensation without requiring them to go through additional litigation. Others criticized the amounts as inadequate given the severity of harm and the scale of Epstein’s estate. Some felt the process required them to relive trauma without corresponding support.