How Jeffrey Epstein Used the Billionaire Behind Victoria’s Secret for Wealth and Women – The New York Times

Mr. Epstein became ubiquitous in Ohio. His black book of contacts filled up with phone numbers with Columbus’s 614 area code. That included dozens of numbers for Mr. Wexner, his personal staff and L Brands executives — even a couple of local doctors. Mr. Epstein, who would fly in and out of Columbus on his private plane, became a fixture at Mr. Wexner’s parties and an annual fund-raiser for the Wexner Arts Center, which included a luncheon at the billionaire’s home.

When Mr. Wexner celebrated his 59th birthday with a dinner party at his mansion, Mr. Epstein acted like a master of ceremonies, giving toasts and introducing guests, according to a person who attended.

As Mr. Epstein managed Mr. Wexner’s fortune, parts of that fortune ended up in Mr. Epstein’s hands.

Mr. Epstein became deeply involved in Mr. Wexner’s upscale real-estate development in New Albany, about 15 miles outside Columbus. He set up shop in the same downtown Columbus skyscraper as Jack Kessler, the co-founder of the New Albany Company and one of Mr. Wexner’s close friends. Mr. Kessler declined to comment.

Inside the New Albany development, a 23-room, 10,600-square-foot mansion with a pool and bathhouse was being built for Mr. Kessler and his wife, property records show. But Mr. Wexner legally controlled the property, and in 1992 Mr. Epstein acquired it for $3.5 million.

In 1998, another entity linked to Mr. Wexner bought the property back from Mr. Epstein for $8 million, more than doubling his investment. The assessed value of the home has not changed over the past two decades, according to the Franklin County Treasurer, which today lists the value as $7.8 million.

Around the same time, Mr. Epstein, through a separate company, spent $7.95 million to buy Little St. James Island in the United States Virgin Islands, which would eventually become one of his primary residences.