Who Is Les Wexner?
Leslie Herbert Wexner (born September 8, 1937) is an American billionaire businessman:
- Founder of The Limited (1963), later renamed L Brands
- L Brands portfolio included: Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Express, Lane Bryant, The Limited, Henri Bendel
- Through the 1980s and 1990s, one of the wealthiest and most powerful retail executives in America
- Known for philanthropic activity in Columbus, Ohio (Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University)
- Married to Abigail Koppel in 1993; they have four children
How Epstein and Wexner Met
The origins of the relationship are unclear. Various accounts suggest:
- They were introduced through Robert Meister, an insurance executive
- The introduction occurred in the mid-to-late 1980s (approximately 1986-1987)
- Wexner was looking for a financial adviser who would engage differently than conventional Wall Street advisers
The timing corresponds to the period when Epstein was leaving Bear Stearns and establishing himself independently.
What Epstein Did for Wexner
Epstein managed financial matters for Wexner through a relationship that went far beyond conventional investment management:
- He managed aspects of Wexner’s personal finances
- He coordinated real estate transactions
- He exercised extraordinary discretionary authority — able to make financial decisions on Wexner’s behalf
- He managed the structural elements of Wexner’s personal and business financial interests
The Power of Attorney
Wexner granted Epstein a broad power of attorney enabling him to:
- Execute contracts on Wexner’s behalf
- Transfer assets
- Make financial decisions without prior approval
- Act in Wexner’s name in business affairs
This level of authority is extraordinary for any relationship, let alone one between a retired schoolteacher and a billionaire.
The Manhattan Mansion Transfer
The most documented asset transfer: the 9 East 71st Street Manhattan townhouse, which Wexner had extensively renovated:
- The property had been Wexner’s New York pied-à-terre
- It was transferred to Epstein through an intra-partnership transaction
- The apparent consideration was $1 or nominal
Given the market value of the property (tens of millions of dollars in the 1990s, now $80M+), this is one of the most extraordinary unexplained asset transfers in the story.
Financial Flows
Beyond the Manhattan mansion, Wexner appears to have transferred or enabled Epstein’s control of:
- A $100 million+ gift reportedly made by Wexner to Epstein’s foundations
- Arrangements through the Cardinal Trust and other entities
- Compensation for financial services that may have totaled in the hundreds of millions
The total financial benefit Epstein derived from the Wexner relationship has never been fully accounted.
Wexner’s Claim He Was Defrauded
After Epstein’s arrest in 2019, Wexner made a public statement:
- He had severed the relationship with Epstein in 2007 (around the time the Florida case was emerging)
- He stated he was “horrified” by Epstein’s crimes
- He claimed Epstein had “misappropriated vast sums” from him
- He suggested he was one of Epstein’s victims, not a knowing enabler
Criticisms of this account:
- Wexner granted Epstein more authority than any normal fiduciary relationship would suggest
- The breadth of the power of attorney was visible to Wexner
- Epstein’s lifestyle (private islands, aircraft, Manhattan mansion) was visibly extraordinary
- No lawsuit or formal claim asserting fraud against Epstein was ever filed by Wexner
The Victoria’s Secret Connection
Wexner’s control of Victoria’s Secret created the world’s most valuable lingerie brand — and Epstein exploited the VS brand to recruit victims:
- Using VS model scout credentials to approach young women
- Claiming connections to VS and L Brands to promise modeling opportunities
The link between Wexner’s company and Epstein’s trafficking operation is one of the most studied aspects of the case.
Post-2019
Following Epstein’s arrest:
- Wexner stepped down as CEO of L Brands in February 2020
- L Brands subsequently restructured and was rebranded
- Wexner retired to low public profile in Columbus, Ohio
- No charges were filed against Wexner