Brice Gordon is a New Zealand-born property manager who managed Jeffrey Epstein's properties for over two decades, including Zorro Ranch in New Mexico and Little St. James Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gordon, who served in the New Zealand Army from the late 1970s to the late 1980s, and his wife Karen managed Epstein's remote properties during the period prosecutors allege he trafficked women and girls. The archive contains 14,682 emails involving Gordon, spanning 2009 through 2019, documenting his role overseeing construction, maintenance, staffing, and logistics at Epstein's estates. Gordon was listed in Epstein's final trust to receive $2 million, revised just two days before Epstein's death. The Gordons disappeared from public view following Ghislaine Maxwell's 2020 arrest, with New Mexico lawmakers seeking to subpoena them for testimony about activities at Zorro Ranch.
Background#
Brice M. Gordon served in the New Zealand Army from the late 1970s to the late 1980s, with public records showing the Gordons lived in Waiouru during their military service before moving to Dunedin in the 1990s. His wife Karen L. Gordon served in the New Zealand Navy from 1980 to 1989.
The Gordons worked as property managers at Epstein's New Mexico Ranch from the early 2000s through Epstein's 2019 death. They also managed his Caribbean island, where they lived at various times. A 2011 EPA permit listed Brice Gordon as "island manager" for Little St. James Island. According to The Spinoff, the couple were "two of Epstein's most trusted and longest-serving staff members," with Epstein granting Gordon limited power of attorney in 2011 to handle affairs in New Mexico.
Gordon's name is listed as trustee who signed for a $29.3 million lottery payout to the Zorro Trust, the legal entity tied to Epstein's ranch, from an $80 million Powerball jackpot won on July 2, 2008—two days after Epstein entered a Florida jail for his initial conviction.
The FBI interviewed Gordon in February 2007 at Zorro Ranch as part of an investigation into child sex abuse in Florida. The notes from this interview are missing from the material released by the Department of Justice. According to Wikipedia, citing a local stripper, the Gordons "hosted sex parties and recruited local showgirls" at the ranch. The Gordons went into hiding after Maxwell's arrest, reportedly "fearing for their lives."
New Mexico lawmakers established a "truth commission" investigation into Zorro Ranch and may subpoena the Gordons. State Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez stated: "We need to hear from them. If they were involved with his dealings over that amount of time... not only do we need to know what their involvement was very clearly, we also need to know what they know." The couple's reported disappearance was called "alarming" by investigators. The Gordons are not accused of criminal wrongdoing.
Correspondence with Epstein#
The archive documents extensive operational correspondence between Gordon and Epstein from 2009 through 2019, with Gordon sending 6,203 emails and receiving 6,277 emails as a direct recipient. The emails show Gordon managed day-to-day operations across Epstein's properties, coordinating construction projects, vendor payments, staffing, and logistics.
Gordon reported directly to Epstein on property conditions and project timelines. In March 2019, Epstein asked "how are things going?" and Gordon responded with updates on weather, water systems, roads, and construction projects at Zorro Ranch. In March 2016, when Epstein requested "rough completion dates for each outstanding project", Gordon provided a detailed timeline for work at Zorro. Gordon's signature block identified him as based in Stanley, New Mexico, with phone contact information.
Epstein closely managed property decisions, sometimes expressing frustration with execution. When Gordon reported a construction error at Little St. James in December 2018, Epstein demanded: "is kyle on site. how does something get built in the wrong location with a design I have never approved". Epstein also questioned aesthetic choices, asking Gordon about painting the Zorro Ranch main house exterior and deciding he wanted to "patch, not paint the whole house. i like the faded cracked look".
Financial arrangements reflected Gordon's employment relationship. In February 2019, Gordon requested approval for vacation to New Zealand, proposing April 10-28 at a cost of $3,000 for two economy tickets to Auckland. Epstein responded: "your choice you deserve a vacation" and approved the expense.
Gordon coordinated Epstein's travel logistics between properties. In May 2019, Epstein notified Gordon, pilot Ivjet, attorney Darren Indyke, and assistant Lesley Groff: "wheels up at 830 am to alberquequ", with Gordon among the recipients of multiple copies of this flight notification. In November 2015, when Epstein changed his Thanksgiving schedule, Gordon received notice that Epstein would "leave the ranch wed 4. fly to carlsbad, stay 2 hrs fly to palm beach".
Gordon worked closely with Richard Kahn, Epstein's architect and construction manager, on project budgets and vendor negotiations. In January 2019, Kahn questioned Gordon about a $77,048 bid for Red House refurbishment at Zorro Ranch, noting the proposal appeared "overstated" by $10,275. After Gordon forwarded corrections from the contractor, Kahn approved payment. In July 2016, after Gordon made a calculation error requiring $9,750 in additional plant material, Kahn negotiated the vendor down from $19.50 to $18.00 per plant, reporting that "brice apologized and said he made big mistake".
Gordon managed purchasing for both properties. A 2023 Restoration Hardware order shows Gordon ordering furniture shipped to "Brice Gordon / LSJ / Little St. James Island / 6100 Red Hook Quarters B3 / St. Thomas, USVI 00802" with a total of $1,786.37. Multiple emails show Gordon coordinating orders, deliveries, and installations across properties.
In December 2011, when Epstein notified Gordon that "six people will arrive on the 30th, we will all leave moring of the 2nd", Gordon asked other staff if they knew "who they are or any details, just need to shop soon before the mkts get hit." No one on staff knew the identities of the arriving guests, with one assistant writing "Great we are all clueless".
Connections#
Gordon's primary correspondents reflect his operational role. He exchanged 2,950 emails with Richard Kahn, Epstein's construction manager, coordinating budgets, vendor payments, and project timelines. Gordon had 1,105 emails with the Little St. James/Great St. James administrative account and 1,016 emails with Ann Rodriguez, who managed Epstein's Virgin Islands properties. He corresponded 525 times with Lesley Groff, Epstein's longtime executive assistant, and 523 times with Larry Visoski, Epstein's chief pilot.
Gordon coordinated with contractors including Gary Kerney (963 emails), Cashkim Bussue (689 emails), Kyle Reavis (499 emails), and Michael Glidden (395 emails). He communicated 273 times with Darren Indyke, one of Epstein's attorneys and estate executors.
Gordon worked with other staff managers including Karyna Shuliak (401 emails), Daphne Wallace (812 emails), and Joseph Igala (201 emails). He had 181 emails with Sarah Kellen, Epstein's assistant who has been accused in civil lawsuits of facilitating abuse.
Document References#
Gordon appears in civil litigation discovery materials related to victim lawsuits against Epstein's estate. Court filings in Bryant v. Indyke, Doe 1000 v. Indyke, and Helm v. Indyke reference discovery requests for communications involving property managers, though Gordon is not named in the publicly available excerpts of these filings.
An Environmental Protection Agency air pollution permit dated December 16, 2010, lists L.S.J., LLC at "6100 Red Hook Quarters B-3, St. Thomas, V.I. 00802" with phone number matching Gordon's contact information. A related Territorial Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit dated October 19, 2011, authorizes discharge from Little St. James Island, with the application listing Gordon's contact details.
Gordon appears in Epstein's final trust document, "The 1953 Trust," executed August 8, 2019—two days before Epstein's death. Section 2.3(A)(29) states: "to BRICE GORDON, if he survives me, Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000)." This bequest placed Gordon among 45 individuals and entities designated to receive payments from the trust, which totaled over $600 million in assets.
Deutsche Bank presentation materials prepared for the Southern District of New York in September 2019 detail Epstein's financial relationships, though Gordon is not specifically mentioned in the available excerpts. The FBI's 2006 investigative file documenting the Palm Beach police investigation into Epstein does not reference Gordon by name.
Visits to Epstein Properties#
The archive documents Gordon's continuous presence at Epstein's properties as a live-in manager rather than a visitor. Gordon's signature block consistently identified him at "Stanley, NM" for Zorro Ranch correspondence and his contact information appeared on government permits for Little St. James Island.
Zorro Ranch, New Mexico: Gordon lived and worked at the ranch throughout the 2009-2019 period covered by the archive. Emails show him present for property maintenance, construction oversight, vendor coordination, and guest logistics. In January 2019, he was on-site managing Red House refurbishment. In October 2018, he was reviewing road paving progress. In March 2019, he provided status updates on water systems, irrigation, and construction. In May 2019, he received notice of Epstein's arrival at the ranch.
Little St. James Island, U.S. Virgin Islands: Gordon managed the island property, with his address listed on a 2023 Restoration Hardware order as "Brice Gordon / LSJ / Little St. James Island / 6100 Red Hook Quarters B3 / St. Thomas, USVI 00802." A 2010 EPA permit listed the same address and Gordon's phone number for the island. In December 2011, Gordon was on-site preparing for guests when Epstein notified him "six people will arrive on the 30th." In December 2018, Gordon coordinated construction issues at the island. In November 2018, he worked with contractor Kyle on various projects. In February 2019, he addressed mold in master bedroom ductwork.
Palm Beach, Florida: No emails document Gordon visiting or managing Epstein's Palm Beach property.
Manhattan townhouse: No emails document Gordon visiting Epstein's Manhattan residence.
Paris apartment: No emails document Gordon visiting Epstein's Paris property.