From teacher to tycoon: the jet-set spiral to Epstein’s disgrace

Born to working-class parents in Brooklyn, Epstein had one of the biggest mansions in New York at his height.

Jeffrey Epstein’s mugshot on The New York State Sex Offender Registry. Picture: AP

Jeffrey Epstein’s death is likely to trigger a raft of conspiracy theories as to who among his rich and famous former associates would wish to see him silenced.

At the height of his success, ­Epstein counted the likes of ­Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, Woody Allen and Prince Andrew among his social circle.

Epstein would often ferry his powerful friends between his luxury residences on his private jet, a plane that would later be dubbed the “Lolita Express” by the press.

Born to working-class parents and raised in Coney Island, Brooklyn, Epstein had one of the biggest mansions in New York at the height of his influence in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Having dropped out of college without getting a degree, Epstein was hired to teach maths and physics at New York’s exclusive Dalton School. Ironically, the school’s principal, Donald Barr, was the father of Attorney-General William Barr, who would have overseen Epstein’s prosecution.

Epstein left the role after just two years after reportedly being scouted by the chairman of investment bank Bear Stearns, Alan Greenberg. After hitting the big time with his own firm J. Epstein & Co, the businessman was transported comfortably into the ranks of the global elite.

Epstein was reportedly introduced to Andrew in the 1990s through his friendship with his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of disgraced newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell.

Ghislaine Maxwell has been ­alleged to have acted as Epstein’s de facto madam who helped him procure under-age victims. In 2000, Andrew was spotted holidaying with Epstein at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, and in return Epstein was reportedly treated to stays in several royal residences.

Even after Epstein pleaded guilty to child prostitution charges in 2008, Andrew did not break off their friendship and they were photographed together following his release from prison. In 2015, Andrew was dragged deeper into the scandal when one of Epstein’s victims — Australian Virginia Roberts Giuffre — said she had been forced to have sex with the prince on three occasions, when she was 17. Buckingham Palace has repeatedly denied the claims. It emerged in 2015 that ­Andrew’s former wife Sarah Ferguson ­accepted £15,000 from Epstein in 2010 to help pay off her debts.

Former president Mr Clinton flew on Epstein’s jet 26 times.

In a 2002 article, Mr Trump made light of Epstein’s penchant for young girls. “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” he told New York magazine. “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

As soon as Epstein was seen being wheeled on a stretcher out of the Manhattan correctional centre, theories began to proliferate on social media about the shamed financier being silenced.

After he was found injured on the floor of his cell last month with bruises on his neck, some online commentators described it as a “murder attempt”. “Men in high places want Epstein dead,” one Twitter use wrote.

Yesterday, politicians took to social media to question the circumstances. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, now a lawyer for Mr Trump, tweeted: “Who was watching? What does camera show? … Follow the motives.”

Epstein’s suicide was likely ­recorded by jail cameras, according to Preet Bharara, the former federal prosecutor in Manhattan.

“One hopes it is complete, conclusive and secured,” he tweeted

PA, AP, The Times