Jeffrey Epstein had power and influence because he had money.
It attracted wealth and those who also sought it. His fortune enabled the crimes he committed. Its role cannot be underestimated.
The frenzied fallout from his death leaves a trail of questions over how he came by his money.
Epstein files: See the latest revelations
Epstein‘s empire once included the largest residential property in Manhattan, two sun-soaked islands and three planes.
But were they the product of pure financial acumen or were there also more sinister elements; blackmail disguised as financial expertise and a free rein to ensnare people of interest to the security services?
Here’s what we do know.
How much was Epstein worth?
A document, signed by the convicted paedophile just two days before his suicide in 2019, suggests his estate was worth in the region of $580m (£475m at that time) before the payment of any taxes and liabilities.
The 1953 Trust – likely named in reference to the year of his birth – was a trust fund that allowed the identities of his beneficiaries to be hidden, as opposed to a simple will.
The final version was released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), with some redactions, for the first time last week and showed more than 40 people were set to inherit millions of dollars each, including Ghislaine Maxwell ($10m).
Where it all began
To understand the end, we have to explore the beginning.
New York-born Epstein was considered a maths genius but never graduated, despite attending university.
He left education for education – to teach teenage boys and girls, without qualifications, at a private school that was attended by children of many of New York’s elite.
After being fired – apparently for lacking teaching skills – Epstein was given a job at the investment banking giant Bear Stearns by…
