We have an official narrative about how Epstein built his $578 million fortune, and it goes like this.
Despite never earning a college degree, Epstein began teaching math at a fancy private school in Manhattan in the mid-1970s. He tutored the son of Alan Greenberg, former CEO of Bear Stearns, and landed a gig there. He reportedly climbed the ranks quickly and became a limited partner. But, in 1981, he left to start his own company, J. Epstein & Co. He went on to allegedly “manage” money for billionaires like Les Wexner, former CEO and founder of L Brands, and Leon Black, former Apollo Global Management chairman.
Everyone always knew the origin story behind his “wealth” was shady, at best. But anecdotes and a new Epstein interview that emerged from the 3 million pages of records released Jan. 30 have blown fresh, gaping holes in the rags-to-riches tale. I was genuinely floored by one former Wall Street trader’s Epstein story, and how he figured out that Epstein was a fraud. And, even though corporate media has long whitewashed the crimes of America’s elite and hoodwinked the public, I could not believe that outlets had propped up a fanciful notion about Epstein’s “career.”