Summary
In 2007, Jeffrey Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking minors. Despite his lack of a traditional business or economic activity, Epstein managed to accumulate significant capital, strategic properties, and privileged access to elites in politics, finance, and global academia. His success lay not in generating wealth but in maintaining opaque operations that allowed illicit activities to flourish undetected. Epstein’s modus operandi involved acting as an intermediary for ultrarich clients who needed secrecy, protection, or intermediation of undisclosed matters. This included handling patrimonies without transparent governance structures and avoiding accountability. The article highlights how regulatory measures such as anti-money laundering (AML) procedures and customer due diligence (KYC) were technically implemented but insufficient to prevent Epstein’s activities. The author argues that the failure lies not in a lack of formal rules, but rather in their effectiveness for controlling weaker entities while being overly lenient towards powerful individuals. This discrepancy creates an environment where morally dubious actions become normalized. In this context, comparisons are often drawn with the Catholic Church. The article does not elaborate further on these connections, focusing solely on Epstein’s role as a facilitator of illegal activities through opaque financial systems.
Key Topics
Jeffrey Epstein, Elite, Governance opacity
