Who will inherit Epstein’s fortune? Recent files reveal

• Newly unsealed Justice Department records detail Jeffrey Epstein’s final will and intended beneficiaries.
• The estate remains frozen as courts prioritize victim compensation and unresolved claims.

Recently released documents from the US Department of Justice provide new insight into how Jeffrey Epstein planned to distribute his fortune before his death in federal custody in August 2019.

The records, totaling more than three million pages, were unsealed in late 2025 and early 2026 under a congressional mandate. They show that Epstein signed a revised will two days before his death, creating the “1953 Trust” and naming 43 beneficiaries. His estate was initially valued at about $630 million.

The documents indicate that the trust prioritized close associates and made no direct provisions for Epstein’s victims.

Assets, clients, and sources of wealth

The revised trust replaced an earlier 2019 version and detailed bequests exceeding $330 million in cash and property. Epstein’s wealth was generated through financial services for ultra-wealthy clients, producing more than $800 million in revenue between 1999 and 2018 via firms based in the US Virgin Islands.

The newly released files also identify additional billionaire clients, including real estate investor Mortimer Zuckerman and Ariane de Rothschild, who paid significant fees for estate planning and strategic advice. The disclosures further highlight long standing questions surrounding the opaque origins of Epstein’s fortune.

Girlfriend named primary beneficiary

The trust names Karyna Shuliak, Epstein’s girlfriend at the time of his death, as the primary beneficiary. A Belarus native whom Epstein reportedly planned to marry, Shuliak was allocated $100 million, split between $50 million in immediate cash and a $50 million annuity.

She was also designated to inherit all of Epstein’s real estate holdings, including a Manhattan mansion, a Paris apartment, a New Mexico ranch, a Palm Beach residence, and the private islands of Little Saint James and Great Saint James in the US Virgin Islands.

Additional assets include a 32.73-carat diamond ring given “in contemplation of marriage,” 48 loose diamonds, and $5 million for property operating expenses.

Other beneficiaries and executors

Epstein’s longtime lawyer and co-executor Darren Indyke was slated to receive $50 million, while accountant and co-executor Richard Kahn was designated $25 million. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking and now serving a 20-year sentence, was listed for $10 million.

Epstein’s brother, Mark Epstein, was allocated $10 million in trust for his children. Other bequests ranged from $1 million to $10 million for staff members and redacted individuals, including children of Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen.

The documents also detail a shifting list of executors between 2003 and 2019, reflecting Epstein’s ties to financial and political circles. Those named in various versions include former Bear Stearns CEO Jimmy Cayne, former banking executive Jes Staley, real estate billionaire Andrew Farkas, former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, and former Goldman Sachs general counsel Kathy Ruemmler.

Estate frozen amid litigation

Despite the detailed allocations, the 1953 Trust remains inactive as a “pour over” trust until all estate obligations are resolved. By September 2025, the estate’s value had dropped to about $127 million after $125 million was paid to more than 100 victims through a compensation program, along with taxes, legal fees, and settlements.

Ongoing litigation in the US Virgin Islands continues to tie up remaining assets. Courts have made clear that no beneficiaries will receive funds until all creditor claims and victim related obligations are fully satisfied.

The lack of direct provisions for more than 200 alleged victims in Epstein’s will has drawn renewed criticism. Attorneys involved in the case say victim compensation remains the priority, as legal proceedings continue under heightened public scrutiny.