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Leon Black, a billionaire financier and co-founder of Apollo Global Management, has a documented connection to Jeffrey Epstein spanning several years, primarily through financial and social interactions. Their relationship appears to have begun in the late 1990s or early 2000s, with Black becoming one of Epstein’s prominent associates in elite financial circles. Court documents from the Giuffre v. Maxwell case and the 2024-2025 DOJ document releases reveal that Black’s name appears multiple times in Epstein-related files, including flight logs for the 'Lolita Express,' Epstein’s private jet. Black is recorded as having flown on Epstein’s plane at least once, on a trip in 2002, though exact dates and destinations vary across logs. Locations of their meetings include Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and Palm Beach estate, where Black was reportedly seen during social gatherings, as noted in news investigations by The New York Times and Bloomberg. Financially, Black paid Epstein approximately $158 million between 2012 and 2017 for tax and estate planning advice, a transaction detailed in a 2021 Apollo internal review and reported by The Wall Street Journal. This arrangement raised questions about the nature of their relationship, though Black has denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. Shared associates include Jes Staley, former Barclays CEO, who also had ties to Epstein. Black has stated in a 2021 interview with Bloomberg, 'I deeply regret having had any involvement with him,' referring to Epstein. No victim testimonies from the released documents directly implicate Black in Epstein’s trafficking activities, though his name surfaces in contexts of social and professional overlap. News investigations, including a 2020 NYT piece, highlight scrutiny over Black’s ties to Epstein, especially given Apollo’s prominence. Twitter/X discussions often amplify these financial dealings but lack new primary evidence beyond court filings and media reports.
Staley, former CEO of Barclays, had professional ties with Black through financial dealings and Apollo Global Management connections.
Client and Associate
Co-founder and former CEO. Stepped down amid scrutiny of Epstein payments.
Both major financiers who had business relationships with Epstein in wealth management.
Both are prominent figures in finance; Black is the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, and Dubin founded Highbridge Capital Management, with reported professional interactions.
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Public Statements (1)
What they claimed:
Professional relationship focused on tax advice
“My relationship with Epstein was focused on tax and estate planning... I deeply regret having been involved with him.”
What the evidence shows:
Black paid Epstein $158 million between 2012-2017, far exceeding typical advisory fees. Independent review found the payments "difficult to explain." Black stepped down as Apollo CEO following revelations.
Sources (1)
Apollo Independent Review