The relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and L Brands founder Leslie Wexner remains one of the most studied puzzles of the Epstein case — not least because Wexner was far wealthier, far better connected in legitimate circles, and far older and more established than Epstein when the relationship began in the late 1980s.
Yet by the early 1990s, Epstein had obtained a sweeping power of attorney enabling him to make financial decisions on Wexner’s behalf, manage his real estate holdings, and act in his name in a range of contexts that few financial advisors ever attain. The legal instrument was so broad that Epstein could, and apparently did, act in Wexner’s name without seeking per-transaction approval.
Several theories have been proposed to explain the dynamic. Some analysts point to Epstein’s apparent early facility with wealth management for a small set of ultra-high-net-worth clients — suggesting he provided genuine financial returns that created dependency. Others suggest Epstein may have had compromising information that gave him leverage over Wexner, an allegation Wexner has denied.
The visible outputs of this dynamic included the transfer of Wexner’s 40-bedroom New York townhouse to Epstein, Epstein’s central role in managing the Wexner Foundation’s philanthropic activities, and Epstein’s deep integration into Wexner’s social and professional world.
Wexner later stated he was defrauded of approximately $46 million by Epstein — suggesting at minimum that the financial control was substantially misused. The defrauded amount and the mechanisms through which it occurred were never fully adjudicated.