Epstein Secrets

took Cana- dian heiress Wendy Belzberg on a date he hired a Rolls-Royce especially for the oc- casion. (Epstein has claimed he owned it.) In 1987. Hoffenberz, according to sources. set Epstein up in the offices he still occu- pies in the Villard House. on Madison Av- enue. across a courtyard from the rest

thed by Vanity Fair, Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem, was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg, 57, who, for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 1993, was trying to buy the New York Post. He is cur- rently incarcerate

ue. Hoffenberg hired his new pro- tégé as a consultant at 525.000 a month, and the relationship flourished. "They trav- eled everywheie together—on Hoffenberg's plane. all around the world, they were al- ways together," says a source. Hoffenberg has claimed that Epstein confided in him. saying. for examp

t Citibank once sued him for defaulting on a $20 million loan. The article suggested that one of his business mentors and previous employers was Steven Hoffenberg, now serving a prison term after "bilking investors out of more than $450 million in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American histo- rY%" As

the stock market, just as the 1987 crash was approach- ing. His story has subsequently changed. When asked if Wexner knew about his con- nection to Hoffenbere. Epstein said that he began working for Wexner in 1989, and that "it was certainly not the same time." Wherever and whenever it was that Ep- stein

renovated by Edward Tut- tle, a designer of the Amanresorts. There is also a $6.8 million house in Palm Beach, Florida, and a fleet of aircraft: a Gulfstream IV, a helicopter, and a Boeing 727. replete with trading room, on which Epstein re- cently flew President Clinton, actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Spac

thed by Vanity Fair, Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem. was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg. 57. who. for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 1993. was trying to buy the New York Post. He is cur- rently incarcerated

ice a lavish lifestyle that included a mansion on Long Island. homes on Man- hattan's Sutton Place and in Florida. and a fleet of cars and planes. Hoffenbeng and Epstein had much in common. Both were smart and obsessed with making money. Both were from Brook- lyn. According to HotTenbers. the two men we

ces. set Epstein up in the offices he still occu- pies in the Villard House. on Madison Av- enue. across a courtyard from the restaurant Le Cirque. Holfenberg hired his new pro- tege as a consultant at 525.000 a month. and the relationship flourished. "They tray. eled everywhere together—on Hoffenberg's

s attention-grabbing moves was flying President Clinton and Kevin Spacey to Africa on a private jet. The article says that when Epstein worked for [Steve Hoffenberg], he cooked up some of Hoffenberg's questionable financing deals - a claim Epstein has denied. Full Text (249 words) (Copyright 2003, The New York

renovated by Edward Tut- tle. a designer of the Amanresorts. There is also a 56.8 million house in Palm Beach, Florida. and a fleet of aircraft: a Gulfstrcam IV. a helicopter. and a Boeing -27. replete with trading room. on which Epstein re- cently flew President Clinton. actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Space

arthed by Vanity Thin Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor it might seem. was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg. 57 who, for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 1993, was trying to buy the New York Post He is cur- rently incarcerated i

zi schemes in American history. When Epstein met Hoffenberg in Lon- don in the 1980s, the latter was the char

. Epstein has denied he ever had any deal- ings with anyone from the insurance com- panies. But Richard Allen says he recalls talking to Epstein at Holfenberg's direction and telling him it was urgent they retrieve the missing bonds for a state examination. According to Allen, Epstein said, "NWT get the

irque. HolTenbers hired his new pro- tege as a consultant at 525,000 a month. and the relationship flourished. They tray tied everywhde together—on Hoffenbergs plane. all around the world, they were al- ways together," says a source. Hoffenberg has claimed that Epstein confided in him. saying. for example

eing renamed by Edward Ma- de, a designer of the Arnanresons. There is also a 56.8 million house in Palm Beach, Florida, and a fleet of aircraft: a Gulfstream IV, a helicopter. and a Boeing 727. replete with trading room. on which Epstein re- cently flew President Clinton, actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Speec

thed by Vanity Fair, Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem, was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg, 57, who, for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 093, was trying to buy the New York Asst. He is cur- rently incarcerated

dollars," Stroll has said. Hoffenberg, says a close friend, "really liked Jeffrey... Jeffrey has a way of getting under your skin, and he was under Hoffenberg's." Also appealing to Hoffenberg were Epstein's social connections; they included oil mogul Cece Wang (father of the designer Vera) and Mohan Murja

person in charge or the trans- actions. and Mitchell Bracer was assisting him with it in coordination on behalf or the insurance companies' money." Hoffinberg, claimed at the time. At one point. according to Hoffinberg. a broker forged the documents necessary for a SI.S million check to be written on in

renovated by Edward Tit- tle, a designer of the Amanresorts. There is also a $6.8 million house in Palm Beach, Florida, and a fleet of aircraft: a Gulfstream IV, a helicopter. and a Boeing 727. replete with trading room, on which Epstein re- cently flew President Clinton. actors Chris 'Ricker and Kevin Spac