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November 24, 2025

The Jeffrey Epstein Real Estate Empire: A Factual Overview

Christian Pilares

Jeffrey Epstein

 

Jeffrey Epstein’s wealth included a large and geographically diverse real estate portfolio. At the time of his death and in the subsequent liquidation of his estate, his holdings spanned New York City, Palm Beach, the U.S. Virgin Islands, New Mexico, and Paris. The following is a factual overview of these major properties, covering locations, valuations, historical context, and sale details. 

 

  1. Manhattan Townhouse: 9 East 71st Street, New York, NY

One of Epstein’s most well-known properties was his townhouse at 9 East 71st Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The building is a historic, French-Neoclassical mansion originally constructed in the early 1930s by architect Horace Trumbauer for Herbert N. Straus, heir to the Macy’s family. 

Epstein acquired control of the property in 1998 through a Virgin Islands company. Reports indicate he paid around $20 million to businessman Leslie Wexner, who previously held the home. 

The townhouse featured imported French limestone, detailed ironwork, a grand entry with oversized oak doors, and a wide frontage rare for Manhattan. It was also known for having extensive security installations, including closed-circuit surveillance. 

At the time the estate was inventoried, the Manhattan townhouse was valued between roughly $56 million and $77 million. In 2021, it was sold by his estate for $51 million. 

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  1. Palm Beach Estate:358/360 El Brillo Way, Palm Beach, Florida

Epstein owned a waterfront mansion on El Brillo Way in Palm Beach. He purchased the property in 1990 for approximately $2.5 million. 

The estate included a six-bedroom main residence, a staff house, a pool area, and landscaped grounds along the Intracoastal Waterway. The home faced Tarpon and Everglades islands and offered direct water views. 

In 2019, the property was valued by the estate at around $12.4 million. It was later listed for approximately $22 million. 

In January 2021, the mansion was sold for $18.5 million to developer Todd Michael Glaser, who subsequently demolished the structure. After clearing the lot, Glaser resold the land for nearly $26 million to investor David Skok. The address was officially changed afterward to reduce the association with its former owner. 

 

  1. Private Islands: Little St. James & Great St. James, U.S. Virgin Islands

Epstein owned two private islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands: Little St. James and Great St. James. 

Little St. James, approximately 70 acres in size, was purchased in 1998 for about $8 million. Great St. James, more than twice its size at over 160 acres, was acquired in 2016 for about $22.5 million. 

Both islands included a main residence, guest villas, a private dock, a helipad, and various service buildings. They were long considered the most valuable assets in his portfolio. 

After Epstein’s death, the estate valued the two islands together at around $31 million. In 2022, they were listed for $125 million. In 2023, the islands were sold for $60 million to investor Stephen Deckoff. Under the terms of the sale, half of the proceeds were directed to a fund established by the U.S. Virgin Islands government to support community and victim services. 

 

  1. Zorro Ranch: Stanley, New Mexico

Another major property was Zorro Ranch, located near Stanley, New Mexico. Epstein purchased the ranch in 1993 for approximately $12 million. 

The property covered about 10,000 acres and included a large main house of roughly 30,000 square feet, a separate caretaker’s residence, horse stables, storage buildings, a greenhouse, and a private airstrip with a hangar. The ranch functioned as a self-sustaining compound and was among his largest landholdings. 

In 2019, the estate valued the ranch at approximately $17.2 million. It was listed for sale in 2021 for $27.5 million before later being reduced to $18 million. The property was sold in 2023 to a company that renamed it San Rafael Ranch. The proceeds were directed toward estate administration and creditor payments. 

 

  1. Paris Apartment: Avenue Foch, Paris, France

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Epstein also owned an apartment in one of Paris’s most prestigious districts. He acquired a 7,400-square-foot unit on Avenue Foch in the 16th arrondissement in 2001 for about $3.2 million. 

The residence was created by combining two apartments and included additional cellar storage space. It was known for high ceilings, classic French architecture, and its proximity to major Parisian landmarks. 

In 2019, the apartment was valued at approximately $8.7 million. It was later listed for around $12.5 million and was sold in 2022 for roughly $10 million to a private buyer. 

 

Estate-Wide Valuation and Liquidation Summary 

At the time of Epstein’s death, his total estate was estimated at around $578 million, with real estate representing a significant portion of that total. The combined appraised value of his properties was approximately $117 million. 

Between 2021 and 2023, all major holdings, including the islands, the ranch, the Paris apartment, the Palm Beach estate, and the Manhattan townhouse, were sold. Across those transactions, the estate generated roughly $160 million in real estate sale proceeds. 

Funds from the sales were directed toward victim compensation programs, settlement obligations, government agreements, and general estate administration. These sales effectively marked the dissolution of Epstein’s real estate empire. 

Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein

Corporate Ownership Structures 

Several of Epstein’s properties were held through offshore or corporate entities, which was typical of his broader financial structure. 

  • The Manhattan townhouse was owned by a Virgin Islands-based company. 
  • The Palm Beach estate was held under a similarly structured corporation. 
  • Both Little St. James and Great St. James were owned through separate island-registered companies. 

These structures were used for asset management, tax strategy, and privacy. 

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Jeffrey Epstein’s real estate holdings represented one of the most visible parts of his wealth, spanning some of the most exclusive areas in the United States and abroad. His portfolio included a historic Manhattan mansion, a waterfront Palm Beach property, two private Caribbean islands, a sprawling ranch in New Mexico, and a luxury apartment in Paris. 

Following his death, each property underwent valuation, listing, and eventual sale, with proceeds allocated primarily toward victim compensation and estate obligations. By 2023, all major properties had been liquidated, formally closing the chapter on one of the more prominent real estate portfolios associated with Epstein. 

 

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