What’s Jeffrey Epstein’s family tree like? Everything we know
Former multi-millionaire financier and accused sex traficker, Jeffrey Epstein, was more than your run-of-the-mill bissinesman. Epstein is both rumored and pictured as being connected to some of the world’s most elite celebrities – from Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump, to Prince Andrew and Middle Eastern royalty.
As the public and authorities dive deeper into the life of this high-profile criminal, we continue to look to records of Eptein’s past to shed light on his actions.
One question sitting in our minds involves Epstein’s family – what might it reveal about his status or the fate of his estate? Here’s everything we know.about Epstein’s family tree.
Jeffrey Epstein’s basic beginnings
Jeffrey Epstein was born in 1953 to a middle-class, blue-collar family in Brooklyn, NY. Raised by both parents, his dad Seymour worked as a groundskeeper for the NYC Parks & Recreation Department. Epstein’s mother, Pauline, was a part-time aide at a local school.
Epstein’s mother’s involvement in the educational sphere may have been a catalyst for Epstein’s decision to pursue a path for a college degree – even though he dropped out twice and never obtained one. Despite these shortcomings, Epstein began his professional career teaching for an elite NYC private school before entering the world of finance.
Mark Epstein: Jeffrey’s only sibling
Finishing off his immediate family, Epstein also grew up with a brother named Mark, younger than Jeffrey by a year. Mark shared the business mind of his brother, and sought opportunities related to art, modeling, and other entrepreneurial ventures.
Similar to Jeffrey Epstein in more ways than blood, Mark has had his fair share of legal issues – including tax debt, accusations of mismanagement as financial chairman of his alma mater, and the ownership of a real estate company with at least one building connected to the housing of Jeffrey Epstein’s associates and various “girlfriends.”
Mark has a history of being vocal about the treatment of his older brother, often coming to his defence despite having acknowledged, “Jeffrey and I were not that close, we shared brother stuff, but I was not involved in [anything].”
Mark remains adamant his brother didn’t die by suicide, and hired a forensic pathologist for a second autopsy. Mark was set to inherit Jeffrey’s near-$600 million estate had his brother died without a will; however, Business Insider reported Jeffrey did sign a will leaving his wealth to a mysterious trust fund, and nothing to Mark – yet.
Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
If his immediate family created a normal, healthy family tree, Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship to Ghislaine Maxwell was certainly a broken branch. A former associate, lover, and confidante of Epstein, Maxwell is now facing her own slew of charges relating to sex trafficking and abuses.
Early newspaper reports connected Epstein and Maxwell as sharing an intimate relationship as early as 1993. Maxwell has claimed she does in fact have a husband, but has refused to reveal an identity amidst widespread speculation.
Prosecutors against Maxwell in her impending trial have also acknowledged Maxwell is married to an unknown person with unknown assets. Some have pointed to Epstein’s mysterious trust as a source of Maxwell’s wealth, despite Maxwell’s own lawsuit against the estate to collect the funds, she claims, were promised to her by Epstein.
As the pair were close associates for nearly twenty-six years, we think it’s safe to say Maxwell and Epstein are as close as a true family – even without the blood relation.
Epstein’s alleged kid: A growing family
Outside of those we’re sure have relation to Epstein, growing claims have added more and more branches to his now-twisted family tree. Following Epstein’s death, over one hundred claimants stepped forward, alleging to be the biological children – or know of biological children – of the deceased financier.
Understanding Epstein’s luxurious, promiscuous lifestyle and his vast estate, a whole host of alleged biological claimants looking for a piece of the fortune is not unexpected –all of them being truly Epstein’s children, however, would be a shocking reveal.
A DNA company established Epsteinsheir.com, and reported after examining hundreds of claims, barely a quarter appear possible. The company plans to follow any legitimate claims in hopeful collaboration with the U.S. government.
No victims or former lovers have stepped forward with legitimate children despite the scope of the claims. There are also no child-support lawsuits wrapped up in the financial battles for Epstein’s estate. If a child does appear, they would be entitled to inherit a piece of the wealth – after all other pending taxes and settlements, of course.
Until such requests are proven one way or another, each claim adds a new potential branch to the growing complexity of Epstein’s family tree. It’s unlikely anyone can predict how long until any settlement is reached, with Maxwell’s trial not set until summer of 2021. But once it’s all finalized, some trimming is bound to occur.
