The Wexner Financial Pipeline

The Billionaire Benefactor

Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands (Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works), gave Jeffrey Epstein extraordinary financial control — including power of attorney over his entire fortune. Their relationship, which Wexner has struggled to explain, resulted in the transfer of one of the most valuable private residences in Manhattan: the 40-room townhouse at 9 East 71st Street, valued at roughly $77 million.

Key Questions

• How did a college dropout gain power of attorney over a billionaire's finances? Wexner granted Epstein sweeping control in 1991, allowing him to sign tax returns, manage accounts, and make investments on Wexner's behalf.
• What was the true nature of the townhouse transfer? The 2011 property records show a $0 sale from Wexner's trust to Epstein's — a transaction Wexner later claimed was unauthorized.
• Why did the relationship end so quietly? Wexner says he severed ties in 2007, but financial records suggest entanglements continued well beyond that date.
• What role did Abigail Wexner play? As co-trustee of the Wexner Foundation, she approved grants to organizations connected to Epstein.

The FBI Connection

The February 2026 unredacted documents reveal that the FBI had identified Wexner as a "co-conspirator" in their original 2006 investigation — a designation that was redacted from public releases until congressional action forced disclosure.

Recent Developments

In February 2026, a federal judge ordered Wexner to give deposition testimony in the Ohio State/Strauss abuse case, marking the first time he will testify under oath about his relationship with Epstein.