How Did Jeffrey Epstein Get So Rich Despite Lacking College Degree?

February 5, 2026 | 07:27 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2019 failed to bury the deadweight of his case. Instead, recently resurfaced Epstein files have renewed public scrutiny, targeting not only his extensive ties to powerful figures in politics, finance, academia, and business, but also the vast fortune he accumulated over decades.

How did Jeffrey Epstein get so rich, despite being a college dropout and the grandson of Jewish immigrants, has long fueled speculation regarding his rise and influence. Some attributed it to his charm, while others regarded his wealth as the product of pure luck. 

What Was Jeffrey Epstein’s Net Worth?

At the time of his death in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019, documents filed in his criminal case estimated Jeffrey Epstein's net worth at around $560 million, as per CBS News. Reports indicated that much of his mounted fortune was tied to an extensive and unusually diverse property portfolio.

He owned one of the largest private residences in New York City, along with a sprawling ranch in New Mexico, a waterfront estate in West Palm Beach, and a luxury apartment in Paris. Beyond the mainland, Epstein controlled two private islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Little St. James and Great St. James, properties that later became central to multiple allegations detailed in court records.

In addition to real estate, Jeffrey Epstein’s net worth included more than $300 million in cash and investments, alongside high-value personal assets such as artwork, luxury vehicles, and a private jet. Court filings described his homes as filled with rare collectibles and photographs documenting his access to political leaders, royalty, and celebrities. 

How Did Jeffrey Epstein Get So Rich? 

Wall Street Beginnings 

Jeffrey Epstein’s entry into the finance world began in the mid-1970s through an unconventional path. In 1974, he took a job teaching mathematics at the elite Dalton School in New York City, despite lacking a college degree, only to be dismissed two years later for poor performance, according to a school administrator cited by The New York Times. 

During his time at Dalton, Epstein tutored the son of Bear Stearns chief executive Alan Greenberg, a connection that helped him secure a position at the investment bank and marked the start of his rise within New York’s financial elite.

Ladder Climbing 

By the early 1980s, Jeffrey Epstein had embedded himself in New York’s elite circles, operating as what some associates described as a “bounty hunter” who helped ultra-wealthy clients recover stolen assets. 

According to Britannica, his work was highly lucrative, and by 1984, he had amassed his first million dollars, reversing his role at Bear Stearns from broker to client. His growing wealth was matched by expanding access to the city’s most exclusive social networks.

J. Epstein Company 

In 1988, Jeffrey Epstein established J. Epstein & Company, a little-known financial consultancy that claimed to manage money exclusively for individuals worth more than $1 billion. Its most significant client was retail billionaire Leslie H. Wexner, the founder of the empire behind brands such as Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works. 

For nearly two decades, Epstein exercised extraordinary control over Wexner’s finances, serving as his power of attorney and gaining the authority to buy, sell, and borrow in the billionaire’s name. 

Beyond the money, the relationship was pivotal to Epstein’s rise, as Wexner’s backing gave him the credibility and access to a widening circle of billionaires and political elites throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

Payments from Billionaire Clients 

Between 1999 and 2018, Epstein-controlled entities generated more than $800 million in revenue, including over $360 million in dividends and roughly $488 million in fees charged to ultra-wealthy clients for purported financial services.

A large share of that income has since been traced. Forbes estimates that retail billionaire Leslie Wexner accounted for more than $200 million, while Apollo Global Management cofounder Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million. An additional $15 million originated from a hedge fund linked to Glenn Dubin, leaving about $103 million attributed to previously unidentified clients.

Recent U.S. Justice Department disclosures have shed light on part of that remaining sum. The largest newly revealed payment came in 2015 from Ariane de Rothschild, her family, and their bank and investment firm, Edmond de Rothschild, at a time when she sat on the firm’s board alongside her late husband, billionaire Benjamin de Rothschild.

Read: Epstein Files Reveal Ties to Trump, Clinton, Gates, and Musk

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