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

mbia University geneticist says Epstein has that insight in science, too. "He has the ability to make connections that other minds can't make," says Richard Axel, a Nobel Prize winner. "He is extremely smart and probing. He can very quickly acquire information to think about a problem and also to identify bi

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

mbia University geneticist says Epstein has that insight in science, too. "He has the ability to make connections that other minds can't make," says Richard Axel, a Nobel Prize winner. "He is extremely smart and probing. He can very quickly acquire information to think about a problem and also to identify bi

Which governments? -Did you begin advising and representing wealthy people and families regarding philanthropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gala? Did you socialize with Princess Diana at that event? -Did you meet Bill Clinton after he left th

hropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gal

ique her proposed budget? -After meeting with New, did you meet with the following: Hardeep Purie, Kairat Kelimbetov, Nathan Myhrvold, Martin Nowak, Richard Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris? Have you funded Nowak's program at Harvard with $30 million? -did Michael join alunch at your home with Bill Richardson? -

Which governments? -Did you begin advising and representing wealthy people and families regarding philanthropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gala? Did you socialize with Princess Diana at that event? -Did you meet Bill Clinton after he left th

hropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gal

ique her proposed budget? -After meeting with New, did you meet with the following: Hardeep Purie, Kairat Kelimbetov, Nathan Myhrvold, Martin Nowak, Richard Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris? Have you funded Nowak's program at Harvard with $30 million? -did Michael join alunch at your home with Bill Richardson? -

Which governments? -Did you begin advising and representing wealthy people and families regarding philanthropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gala? Did you socialize with Princess Diana at that event? -Did you meet Bill Clinton after he left th

hropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gal

ique her proposed budget? -After meeting with New, did you meet with the following: Hardeep Purie, Kairat Kelimbetov, Nathan Myhrvold, Martin Nowak, Richard Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris? Have you funded Nowak's program at Harvard with $30 million? -did Michael join alunch at your home with Bill Richardson? -

Which governments? -Did you begin advising and representing wealthy people and families regarding philanthropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? EFTA00860836 -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gala? Did you socialize with Princess Diana at that event? -Did you meet Bill Clinton a

hropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? EFTA00860836 -Did you attend the 1994 Serpent

que her proposed budget? -After meeting with New, did you meet with the following: Hardeep Purie, Kairat Kelimbetov, Nathan Myhrvold, Martin Nowak, Richard Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris? Have you funded Nowak's program at Harvard with $30 million? -did Michael join a lunch at your home with Bill Richardson?

Which governments? -Did you begin advising and representing wealthy people and families regarding philanthropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gala? Did you socialize with Princess Diana at that event? -Did you meet Bill Clinton after he left th

hropy during this period? -Did you advise Steven Hoffenberg? -Did you attend the 1994 Serpentine Gallery gal

que her proposed budget? -After meeting with New, did you meet with the following: Hardeep Purie, Kairat Kelimbetov, Nathan Myhrvold, Martin Nowak, Richard Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris? Have you funded Nowak's program at Harvard with $30 million? -did Michael join a lunch at your home with Bill Richardson?

ist calls—essentially wipe out their cell phones. Likewise if you can decode biological signals you can jam them too, that’s the holy grail.’’) Then Richard Axel, a Nobel prize winner in physiology. Then Ron Baron who has $26 billion under management in his Baron Fund. Then Josh Harris, the co-founder of Apoll

ell, who will be accused of fraud, there’s Steven Hoffenberg, briefly a New York high flyer, who went to jail

e. There is no clear alternate narrative, except perhaps guilt by association. (In addition to Robert Maxwell, who will be accused of fraud, there’s Steven Hoffenberg, briefly a New York high flyer, who went to jail for a Ponzi scheme, for whom Epstein acted as a consultant—along with, he points out, Paul Volcker.)