The pink glow of Victoria’s Secret storefronts lit up malls across America, a symbol of fantasy and empowerment—while behind closed doors, its founder, Leslie Wexner, quietly transferred control of his vast fortune to Jeffrey Epstein, a man with no formal financial training.
Their bond began in the late 1980s: Wexner, the billionaire architect of L Brands, handed Epstein power of attorney over his assets, gifted him a sprawling Manhattan townhouse worth tens of millions, and entrusted him with managing billions. Epstein’s wealth exploded from that single relationship—funds that fueled private jets, Caribbean islands, and the infrastructure to traffic and abuse young women for years.
Wexner later called it his “biggest regret,” claiming he was deceived. Yet the transfers continued long after whispers of Epstein’s behavior reached elite circles.
How does one of America’s richest men give away so much power to a predator—and why did it take decades to cut ties?
The fortune that built an empire may have also built a nightmare.
The pink glow of Victoria’s Secret storefronts lit up malls across America, a symbol of fantasy and empowerment—while behind closed doors, its founder, Leslie Wexner, quietly transferred control of his vast fortune to Jeffrey Epstein, a man with no formal financial training.
Their bond began in the late 1980s. Wexner, the billionaire architect of L Brands (parent to Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and more), met Epstein through mutual connections, including Wexner’s then-financial advisor Harold Levin. Despite warnings—Levin reportedly called Epstein “a rat” and untrustworthy—Wexner ignored the red flags. By July 1991, Wexner granted Epstein sweeping power of attorney: a legal document giving him “full power and authority” to hire people, sign checks, buy and sell properties, borrow money, sign tax returns, and act in Wexner’s name. This extraordinary trust placed billions in assets under Epstein’s control for over 16 years.
The perks piled up. Epstein resided in Wexner’s 28,000-square-foot Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street (purchased by Wexner in 1989 for around $13 million), which he occupied for years before formal transfer—via a Wexner-linked entity—to Epstein in 2011 for $0 (though some reports cite a $20 million payment in 1998 with no public records confirming it; the property was valued at $56–77 million by Epstein’s 2019 death). Epstein also bought a $3.5 million home adjacent to Wexner’s New Albany, Ohio estate in 1992, flipped it profitably, and accessed Wexner’s private jet (later transferred). Epstein managed Wexner’s philanthropy, real estate, and personal finances, earning millions in fees while allegedly misappropriating “vast sums” for luxury properties in New York, Ohio, and Palm Beach.
Epstein’s wealth exploded from this single relationship—funds that fueled private jets, the Little St. James island purchase, and the infrastructure enabling his sex-trafficking network, which abused dozens of young women over decades.
Wexner later called it his “biggest regret.” In a 2019 letter to his foundation and statements to investors, he claimed he was “deceived” by someone “so sick, so cunning, so depraved,” expressing embarrassment and deep regret. He said he severed ties in fall 2007 (revoking power of attorney in September 2007) after Epstein’s Florida charges surfaced, recovering some funds—including a $46 million donation to his wife’s foundation in 2008 as partial restitution. Yet documents suggest contacts lingered into 2008, and recent 2025–2026 file releases (DOJ and congressional probes) mention ongoing emails and potential extended ties.
How does one of America’s richest men give away so much power to a predator—and why did it take decades to cut ties? Wexner focused on building his retail empire and philanthropy, delegating to a trusted advisor who projected expertise and elite connections. Critics argue unchecked ambition, isolation from warnings, and Epstein’s manipulative charm blinded Wexner. No evidence shows Wexner knew of Epstein’s crimes until later, but the arrangement enabled Epstein’s rise.
The fortune that built an empire may have also built a nightmare. Victims’ suffering contrasts sharply with pink-lit glamour, underscoring how unchecked trust in elite circles can mask exploitation. Wexner stepped back from L Brands amid scrutiny; the shadows of that fateful handover endure.
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