Preface: This was written in collaboration with Gemini.

Epstein walked away with millions of dollars from the Ponzi scheme set up with Steven Hoffenberg with Towers Financial. This was all done during Epstein’s time as the chairman of the board of IAG. In 1987, a Towers Financial press release regarding a bid to take over Pan Am Airways listed Epstein as the Chairman of the Board of Intercontinental Assets Group (IAG). During this period, Steven Hoffenberg hired him as a consultant for Towers Financial, paying him a massive $25,000 per month (roughly $70,000 today) plus expenses. The exact amount Epstein took from the scheme remains a subject of intense debate and litigation, but the figures are substantial. In a 2018 lawsuit (later withdrawn), Hoffenberg and former investors alleged that Epstein diverted millions of dollars from the scheme to start his own firm, J. Epstein & Company, in 1988. Hoffenberg, who served 18 years in prison for the fraud, spent his final years claiming Epstein was the "mastermind" and "technician" of the scam. He claimed Epstein handled the illegal transfer of funds from insurance companies (United Fire and Associated Life) that Towers had acquired. Court records from the time show disbursements of at least $215,000 directly to "Jeff Epstein & Co.," though investigators believe the true amount funneled through various shell companies was far higher. Despite being "totally in the mix" (according to Hoffenberg), Epstein left Towers Financial around 1989, a few years before the scheme collapsed in 1993. By the time the SEC and FBI moved in, Epstein had already pivoted to managing the fortune of Leslie Wexner. Because Hoffenberg pleaded guilty, there was no trial that might have brought Epstein's specific role into the public record through discovery.

Jeffrey Epstein was introduced to Leslie Wexner in the mid-to-late 1980s through a mutual connection and a calculated series of social maneuvers. The primary link was Robert Meister, a wealthy insurance executive. According to multiple reports, Epstein and Meister met by chance on a flight to Palm Beach. The meeting between Jeffrey Epstein and Robert Meister is often cited as the "Big Bang" of Epstein’s social rise. It transformed him from a disgraced math teacher and niche fraudster into a man with a "billionaire's seal of approval." In the late 1980s, Epstein was a frequent traveler between New York and Florida, often positioning himself where the "old money" spent their winters. Epstein reportedly sat next to Robert Meister, then the Vice Chairman of the insurance giant Aon (and formerly of Frank B. Hall & Co.), on a commercial flight to Palm Beach. Epstein was known for being "extraordinarily mesmerizing." He didn't just talk about money; he presented himself as a high-level mathematical "fixer" who could solve complex financial problems that traditional bankers couldn't touch. Meister was so impressed by Epstein’s intelligence and "mysterious" aura that he didn't just become a friend—he became Epstein’s gateway to the ultra-elite. Meister and his wife, Enid, became Epstein’s social sponsors. They introduced him to the most important person in Epstein’s life: Leslie Wexner, the founder of L Brands (Victoria's Secret, The Limited).

At the time, Wexner was a bachelor and somewhat of a social recluse in Columbus, Ohio. The Meisters introduced Epstein as a brilliant financial mind who could help Wexner manage his multi-billion dollar empire. Wexner’s long-time advisor Harold Levin was skeptical. However, because Epstein came with the "Meister recommendation," Wexner trusted him over his own seasoned advisors. Interestingly, Robert Meister eventually regretted the association. As the "sicko" comments in my earlier research suggest, the relationship soured as Epstein's true nature began to surface decades later. For Epstein, Meister was a "bridge." In the late 80s, Epstein was still fresh off the Towers Financial/Hoffenberg era. He needed a clean, corporate front, and being seen with a Vice Chairman of Aon provided the perfect "corporate camouflage." At the same time, Epstein is really good at returning the favor. In 1991, when Epstein and Wexner pledged $2 million to Harvard for the Hillel building, Robert Meister was also listed as a donor and involved in those high-level academic circles, showing how deeply Epstein had embedded himself into Meister’s professional world. 

When Jeffrey Epstein and Leslie Wexner met in the mid-1980s, the encounter was described as the beginning of a "fast" and intense alliance. According to available reports and Wexner’s own statements, the meeting was facilitated by a recommendation that gave Epstein immediate credibility. Wexner stated in a 2019 letter that he met Epstein through "friends who vouched for and recommended him as a knowledgeable financial professional." Chief among these was Robert Meister, who had been won over by Epstein's intellect during their chance meeting on a plane. The two men reportedly bonded almost instantly. Epstein would later claim to Vanity Fair that the connection was so strong it was as if they had "one brain between the two of us; each has a side." Observers and former business partners described Epstein at the time as "extraordinarily mesmerizing." He successfully presented himself to Wexner as a brilliant "private investment advisor" despite having very few other known clients. 

Wexner was a billionaire who, at the time, was a bachelor and largely focused on building his retail empire (L Brands). Wexner’s existing financial advisor, Harold Levin, reportedly "smelled a rat" after meeting Epstein and explicitly warned Wexner not to trust him. Wexner ignored these warnings and chose to trust Epstein over his long-time staff. Within a short time of their meeting, Wexner began delegating significant portions of his life to Epstein, eventually granting him Power of Attorney in 1991. 

The relationship quickly moved beyond standard financial advice. Epstein became a "trustee" on the board of the Wexner Foundation. He assumed a role in Wexner's personal life, even acting as the master of ceremonies at Wexner's 59th birthday party. He successfully encouraged Wexner to distance himself from several long-time friends and even family members, including Wexner's mother, Bella. Right now you might be wondering, how did they bond so fast? Other than the fact of both being pedos? 

In the 1980s, despite his massive wealth, Les Wexner was an outsider. He was a Jewish billionaire from the Midwest (Columbus, Ohio) who felt snubbed and ignored by the "old money" Manhattan elite. Epstein presented himself as the man who could navigate that world for Wexner. He offered the "glamour and smoothness" Wexner felt he lacked. Epstein specialized in creating a world of exclusivity. He made Wexner feel like they were part of a two-man "intelligence agency" that was smarter than everyone else. Wexner was busy running a retail empire. Epstein offered him the ultimate luxury: a brilliant mind dedicated entirely to Wexner's personal affairs. He wasn't just an advisor; he became Wexner’s shadow. And he clearly offered special services it seems. Ok, I know but, that still doesn’t make much sense to have two people bonded so fast, other than the fact they are both pedos. Perhaps that was the only thing they bonded over. Oh god. Actually, I don’t even know if Epstein was pedo, maybe he’s just gay but played along. He has a hella closeted gay vibe to me. 

Epstein reportedly used a classic manipulation tactic: he worked to isolate Wexner from his long-term support system. He successfully pushed out Wexner's long-time financial advisor, Harold Levin, by accusing him of theft. Epstein was also noted for creating distance between Wexner and his own mother, Bella, who had been a key part of his life and business. By removing these "filters," Epstein became the only person Wexner truly listened to. Before Wexner married Abigail Koppel in 1993, he and Epstein spent a great deal of time together in a high-flying, bachelor lifestyle. They shared planes, homes, and social circles. Epstein even acted as the Master of Ceremonies for Wexner's 59th birthday, proving he had moved from "money manager" to "family member." The speed of this bond resulted in something almost unheard of in the billionaire world: in 1991, Wexner gave Epstein full Power of Attorney. This allowed Epstein to sign Wexner's tax returns, hire and fire employees, borrow money in Wexner’s name, buy and sell multi-million dollar properties without Wexner's signature. This level of trust is why many investigators believe there was a "deeply emotional" or "leverage-based" bond that went far beyond business.  ☀️